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By Curtis Galbraith

Agriculture

Opposition parties pushing for help for farmers dealing with drought

Jul 9, 2021 | 2:23 PM

Opposition parties are calling on governments to help farmers dealing with drought.

Alberta NDP agriculture critic Heather Sweet has written to Agriculture and Forestry Minister Devin Dreeshen asking that, if it becomes necessary, the province work with other levels of government in order to secure funding. Sweet also suggested the UCP reconsider not signing on the full set of changes for AgriStability proposed by the federal government.

“Crop producers are worried about their yields while cattle producers struggle to feed their livestock,” says Sweet in a release from the party.

“Alberta producers need to have absolute assurance from their government that appropriate steps will be taken to guarantee the protection of the agriculture sector if the impact of the extreme heat leads to a severe drought.”

During a visit to the Peace Country earlier this week, Premier Jason Kenney said the government is concerned about how this weather is impacting producers.

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“And I know that up here, this heat did damage crops and that affects, obviously, the grain producers and the livestock guys who are dependant on hay and silage. Hopefully, they’ll get some rain. We’ll watch the situation. We have ag. support programs if farmers need that.”

Kenney says some parts of Alberta have had what he describes as “decent moisture.”

The federal Conservatives are calling on the Liberal government to allow farmers to get expedited help from support programs and to come up with a plan if there is a partial or total crop failure.

Shadow Minister of Agriculture Lianne Rood says in a release from the party that while the Trudeau Liberals say they care about food security, their inaction is failing farmers and food processors.

She adds a drought “would have a disastrous impact on Canada’s supply of grain, oilseeds, pulse crops, and feed for Western beef cattle herds,” in a release from the Conservative Party of Canada.