Alberta farmers need support given the extreme heat, Heather Sweet said
By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com
Alberta’s official opposition is calling on the provincial government to come through with assistance for farmers.
“Crop producers are worried about their yields while cattle producers are struggling to feed and provide water to their livestock,” NDP Agriculture Critic Heather Sweet said in a June 30 letter to Devin Dreeshen, Alberta’s ag and forestry minister.
Environment and Climate Change Canada has issued heat warnings for different parts of Alberta within the last few days.
The most recent warning came Wednesday as temperatures in Edmonton and the surrounding area could be between 29 and 33 degrees on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
The Edmonton forecast for Sunday is a mix of sun and cloud with a 60 per cent chance of showers.
To this point, the United Conservative Party have not announced any kind of support for producers compared to other provincial governments which have announced support.
On June 25, the Ontario government committed to providing the provincial portion of the AgriStability program compensation rate from 70 to 80 per cent.
In Saskatchewan, APAS has called on its provincial government to increase the AgriStability compensation rate.
But Agriculture Minister David Marit indicated there are no such plans in the works.
Alberta needs to follow Ontario’s lead, Sweet said.
“The money still sits with the federal government to be matched if you could agree to pay the provincial share,” she wrote in her letter. “I sincerely hope the anxiety producers are feeling during this heat will make you reconsider your past position and simply get this deal done.”
Farms.com has contacted Minister Dreeshen’s office for comment.