Alberta farmers are expected to receive more than $42 million for losses suffered as a result of heavy rainfall and flooding last month. But little of that money will likely find its way to producers in Central Alberta.
The Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and federal governments announced last Thursday that $450 million has been earmarked for Prairie farmers unable to seed because of the excess moisture or who had crops destroyed by flooding.
On Tuesday, Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Jack Hayden said applications for relief under the AgriRecovery program should be available here as early as next week.
Eligible producers can receive $30 an acre for affected land, with $42.1 million available for distribution in Alberta: $25.3 million from the Canadian government and the remainder from the province.
It’s estimated that some 370,000 acres of land in Alberta could not be seeded because of the heavy rainfall, with another million acres flooded after crops were planted. But Chris Dyck, senior manager of insurance operations with Agriculture Financial Services Corp. in Lacombe, said the impact on Central Alberta was minimal.
“The worst area was definitely in that Cardston, Lethbridge, Taber, Medicine Hat area.
“For the most part in Central Alberta, guys were able to get their crop in and there’s not really any flooded seeded acres that were lost.”
However, some producers in the extreme south-eastern part of the region might be eligible for financial assistance, said Dyck.
“We’re expecting some claims south of Drumheller and maybe even some in that Castor-Halkirk country where we’ve heard of some unseeded acres.”
Claims can be made on a spot-loss basis, but at least 25 acres must have been affected and losses suffered before July 8, said Dyck.
The money is expected to be used to finance the cost of seeding cover crops or chem-fallowing land in preparation for the next year.
Those entitled to payouts must apply, with forms to be mailed out to many producers. They’ll also be available online at www.afsc.ca and at district AFSC offices.
Additional information can be obtained by calling 1-877-899-2372 or going online at www.afsc.ca.
hrichards@www.reddeeradvocate.com