Any Alberta producers who were considering AgriStability — but only in hindsight — for the income stabilization plan’s 2023 program year now have until September 29th to apply.

Ottawa and the province have announced that they’ve reopened the jointly-funded program, as wildfires and/or “extremely dry” growing conditions have dragged on many Alberta producers’ work in the months since the program’s regular enrolment deadline of April 30th.

Alberta Agriculture Minister RJ Sigurdson says farmers and ranchers were “blindsided” by wildfires and drought and need support options to make it through this growing season.

He says allowing late participation in AgriStability will enable to them to reassess their business risks and make an informed decision about signing up to protect their operations and livelihoods.

Late participation in AgriStability is offered only in a program year in which a given province or territory’s producers experience a “significant agricultural disaster,” either sector-wide or provincewide.

(Alberta Government News Release)