Ottawa, Manitoba Announce Drought Support for Livestock Producers

Jul 25, 2025

The federal and Manitoba governments have unveiled new support measures to assist livestock producers facing drought-related challenges in the province.

Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation (MASC) will provide support measures through its AgriInsurance program, improving cash flow for livestock producers needing to secure additional feed, said a provincial news release Wednesday.

For claim calculation purposes, MASC will be applying a quality adjustment factor to reduce yield appraisals by 40% for drought-stricken cereal crops - all varieties of wheat, oats, barley, fall rye, triticale and grain corn - that are converted to livestock feed. This quality adjustment was last implemented in 2021 and contributed to over 100,000 acres of grain crops being converted to livestock feed.

Changes for producers with AgriInsurance coverage on forage and pastures include:

deferred premium deductions on payments for forage insurance claims made prior to Oct. 1;

partial claim payments on forage insurance and pasture days insurance claims, when feasible; and

ability for livestock to graze on insured forages after the first cut without impact on claim calculation.

MASC will also offer lending clients an opportunity to defer loan payments and will provide guidance on appropriate options to finance feed purchases, if needed, the release said.

Click here to see more...

Video: Winter Canola Trial in Mississippi | Can It Work for Double Cropping? | Pioneer Agronomy

Can winter canola open new opportunities for growers in the Mid-South? In this agronomy update from Noxubee County, Mississippi, Pioneer agronomist Gus Eifling shares an early look at a first-year winter canola trial and what farmers are learning from the field.

Planted in late October on 30-inch rows, the crop is now entering the bloom stage and progressing quickly. In this video, we walk through current field conditions, fertility management, and how timing could make this crop a valuable option for double-cropping soybeans or cotton.

If harvest timing lines up with early May, growers may be able to transition directly into another crop during ideal planting windows. Ongoing field trials will help determine whether canola could become a viable rotational option for the region.

Watch for:

How winter canola is performing in its first season in this Mississippi field

Why growers chose 30-inch rows for this trial

What the crop looks like as it moves from bolting into bloom

Fertility strategy, including nitrogen and sulfur applications

How canola harvest timing could enable double-cropping with soybeans or cotton

Upcoming trials comparing soybeans after canola vs. traditional planting

As more growers look for ways to maximize acres and diversify rotations, experiments like this help determine what new crops might fit into existing systems.