Latest news with #DarylHarrison
Global News
2 days ago
- Business
- Global News
Enhancements announced for federal AgriStability program to combat drought, tariffs
The federal and Saskatchewan governments have announced significant adjustments to the AgriStability program for the 2025 crop year aimed at providing additional financial relief to producers facing trade instability and non-ideal weather conditions. In a recent virtual meeting, Federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Heath MacDonald, and Saskatchewan's Minister of Agriculture, Daryl Harrison, unveiled changes to improve AgriStability's support for farmers. MacDonald emphasized, 'We are working together to deliver for producers right across the country to make sure our programs work for them. That is why, at our meeting last week, we agreed to make changes to AgriStability so that producers facing trade uncertainty and dry conditions have more protection.' For 2025, AgriStability participants will see their compensation rate increase to 90 per cent from 80 per cent. This change means farmers experiencing a significant decline in their margins will receive 90 cents for every dollar of loss. Story continues below advertisement Additionally, the maximum payout per operation is rising to $6 million from $3 million. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'Supporting producers with immediate changes to AgriStability increases the effectiveness of the program,' Harrison said. 'Reliable and effective business risk management programs help protect against large declines in producers' margins and are an important tool for a strong agricultural sector in Saskatchewan.' Bill Prybylski, president of the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS), welcomed these changes but noted there is still room for improvement. 'It's nice to see that the compensation level increased from 80 to 90 per cent, but we're still only looking at a 70 per cent coverage level. So, there's still areas of the programming that we would like to see improved.' Saskatchewan's agricultural sector is currently facing a combination of challenges, from tariffs on key exports like canola and pork to severe drought conditions affecting various regions. The changes to AgriStability come at a crucial time for farmers who are dealing with both immediate and ongoing financial pressures. While some livestock producers will need to wait until 2026 for changes to feed inventory pricing, this adjustment is expected to better reflect the real-world conditions of farms, particularly during drought years. 'We're optimistic about the changes for livestock producers, particularly in drought-stricken areas,' said Prybylski. 'But there's still more work to be done to make sure the program fully addresses the unique needs of farmers across the province.' Story continues below advertisement The Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation (SCIC) has already started implementing the updates, and producers are encouraged to review their eligibility. The deadline for enrollment in AgriStability for the 2025 program year has been extended to July 31, 2025.
CTV News
2 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Saskatchewan producers to see changes for 2025 AgriStability program
Crops can be seen in the Yorkton area in this file photo dated July 21, 2025. (Fruzsina De Cloedt/CTV News) Big changes are coming to Saskatchewan's AgriStability program, in response international trade and weather-related concerns from producers. For the 2025 program year only, producers will see an increase from 80 per cent to 90 per cent in their compensation rates. This will translate to producers receiving 90 cents on ever dollar of eligible margin decline. Additionally, the maximum payment cap is doubling from $3 million to $6 million. Beginning in 2026, AgriStability will see adjustments to the feed inventory pricing for livestock producers. The change is aimed at ensuring program calculations properly reflect realties on the farm. The changes were announced following a meeting between federal, provincial and territorial ministers of agriculture. 'Supporting producers with immediate changes to AgriStability increases the effectiveness of the program,' provincial Minister of Agriculture Daryl Harrison said. 'Reliable and effective business risk management programs help protect against large declines in producers' margins and are an important tool for a strong agricultural sector in Saskatchewan.' Representatives from the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM), the Saskatchewan Cattle Association (SCA), the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association and the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS) all shared messages in support of the changes. The changes come as trade concerns continue with the United States and China. Continued drought conditions in the southwest has led to several rural municipalities declaring states of emergency. According to the province, from 2018 to 2023, AgriStability has paid more than $645 million in benefits. The deadline to enrol in AgriStability has been extended to July 31, 2025. -More details to come…
CTV News
16-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Federal and provincial agriculture ministers visit producers in Saskatchewan
Left to right: APAS president Bill Prybylski, Sask. Agriculture Minister Daryl Harrison, Heath MacDonald Canada's Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, and Senator Todd Lewis. Canada's new agriculture minister visited key stakeholders in Saskatchewan to discuss international trading concerns. 'This could be a bit of history in the making, having a liberal minister here, a minister from Saskatchewan, a conservative, and having a senator,' Agriculture and Agri-foods Minister Heath MacDonald told CTV News. 'All three of us at one farm on the same day, talking about the benefits and the economic benefits of agriculture across this country and how important it is to our economy.' For the multi-day trip, MacDonald accompanied Saskatchewan's Minister of Agriculture Daryl Harrison, Senator Todd Lewis, and other producers during a visit to a farm south of Regina. Aside from strengthening the federal and provincial working relationship, officials discussed key issues like trade and transportation, port infrastructure, regulatory issues and trade disputes with the U.S. and China. 'Those are things that we need to continue to work on, keep the lines of communication open, and see where the G7 takes us,' MacDonald explained, referring to the upcoming meeting of global leaders in Kananaskis, Alta. Harrison said having the minister travel to the province to hear directly from farmers about ongoing concerns, speaks volume to, 'his commitment to agriculture.' He shared some of the main priorities that were discussed with the group. 'We're talking about our business risk management programs for one. They are cost-shared with the federal government as well, that's important. Then when it comes to trade, certainly China is a big topic as well as the U.S. Those are two of our largest trading partners and we want to make sure those relationships are ongoing,' Harrison said. 'Then the reliability of getting our products to tidewater is very key. You can't mention agriculture without having the transportation and the ports because it all connects. Saskatchewan is a trading province and Canada is a trading nation. That's just the key for the success of agriculture here in the province.' Senator Lewis also pointed out the essential role Saskatchewan plays in Canada's agriculture industry. 'It's all about trade right now and where we're going to be with the negotiations internationally, be it with the United States or Europe, [or] Saskatchewan agriculture, Canadian agriculture, experts around the world,' said Lewis. 'We need to be at the front end of any trade discussion. That's where agriculture is and that's where agriculture needs to be.' With agriculture being the main economic driver in the province, Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS) President Bill Prybylski said it's critical to keep an open dialogue with federal officials. 'We know that agriculture in general across the country is somewhere around seven per cent of the GDP, which is a fairly significant contributor to the economy of the country,' he said. 'Here in Saskatchewan it's even more so … the industry itself, we rely on trades, which is big for the country. Between agriculture and trade, there's a lot of issues that need to be resolved," he added. 'We certainly look forward to working with the ministers to resolve some of those issues.'
CBC
12-05-2025
- Climate
- CBC
Sask. farmers hope for rain, relief from tariffs as seeding continues
With seeding well underway, Saskatchewan farmers are now looking at soil moisture levels and tariffs to see what this year will hold. "The wind is sucking the moisture out of the ground at an exceptional rate. Things are drying up very, very quickly," said Jeremy Welter, who farms northeast of Kerrobert and is a vice-president of the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS). According to the province's most recent crop report, about 18 per cent of the crop has been planted. That same report said topsoil moisture levels are adequate in much of the province, but noted producers in the southwest may not have enough spring runoff to replenish dugouts. "The moisture situation is changing rapidly. I think it is very much a question of where you go," Welter said. The progress in spring seeding prompted the province to release a statement reminding people to slow down and give farmers space when they are moving equipment on the roads. Agriculture Minister Daryl Harrison said soil moisture levels are currently good in much of the province, but that rain is needed soon to help get crops growing. Trade and Export Development Minister Warren Kaeding said farmers are also looking to see China's tariff on Canadian canola products lifted, but that it's not farmers' top concern. "The weather is the primary concern for producers. For about 140 days the weather will be their primary concern, because if they don't have something in the bin they don't have something to market." China imposed a 100 per cent retaliatory tariff on Canadian canola oil and meal in March. Both Kaeding and Harrison said they expect Ottawa will start working to get the tariff on canola products lifted after a new cabinet is announced this week.
CTV News
12-05-2025
- Climate
- CTV News
Province highlighting safety as spring seeding continues
The Government of Saskatchewan is reminding the public to be cautious when approaching farm machinery on provincial roadways – as warm conditions have allowed producers to get in the field earlier. According to the first annual crop report, seeding across the province is already 18 per cent complete, with those in the southwest flying far ahead with 43 per cent of crops in the ground. Minimal precipitation this spring has also assisted the early jump on seeding. Progress in the field also means a more visible presence on highways and grid roads across Saskatchewan. The province is encouraging patience when it comes to encountering producers. 'Producers have wasted no time getting into the field and making a lot of progress in the past few weeks, and we should keep in mind that this work will only ramp up in the days ahead,' Agriculture Minister Daryl Harrison said in a statement. -More to come…
