Help coming for livestock producers in Manitoba amid drought

Drought conditions across Canada's prairies have left farmers praying for rainfall to salvage their crops. Alex Karpa on how this may impact consumers.

The Manitoba government is adjusting its Agri-Insurance program to help livestock producers impacted by drought.

The government announced Wednesday that the Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation is making changes to help impacted producers.

Some of the changes announced include allowing forage and pasture producers to defer forage insurance claim deduction payments made before Oct. 1 and get partial payments on forage and pasture day insurance claims.

“We recognize that some of Manitoba’s livestock producers are facing challenging conditions with the lack of precipitation in certain regions of the province,” said Agriculture Minister Ron Kostyshyn in a statement. “With pastures drying up and minimal sources of feed for livestock, it is important to give producers the resources they need to maintain their herds.”

The province added livestock will also be allowed to graze on insured forages after the first cut without impacting claims.

The corporation is also looking to incentivize farmers to convert cereal crops to livestock feed.

More information can be found online.