Canada and Manitoba announce support for livestock producers affected by drought conditions

From: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

News release

July 24, 2025 – Winnipeg, Manitoba – Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

The governments of Canada and Manitoba are announcing support measures to aid Manitoba’s livestock producers affected by drought conditions, federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Heath MacDonald and Manitoba Agriculture Minister Ron Kostyshyn announced today.

Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation (MASC) will provide support measures through its AgriInsurance program, improving cashflow for livestock producers needing to secure additional feed.

For claim calculation purposes, MASC will be applying a quality adjustment factor to reduce yield appraisals by 40% for drought-stricken cereal crops (all varieties of wheat, oats, barley, fall rye, triticale, and grain corn) that are converted to livestock feed. This quality adjustment was last implemented in 2021 and contributed to over 100,000 acres of grain crops being converted to livestock feed.

Changes for producers with AgriInsurance coverage on forage and pastures include:

  • Deferred premium deductions on payments for Forage Insurance claims made prior to October 1, 2025
  • Partial claim payments on Forage Insurance and Pasture Days Insurance claims, when feasible
  • Ability for livestock to graze on insured forages after the first cut without impact on claim calculation

MASC will also offer lending clients an opportunity to defer loan payments and will provide guidance on appropriate options to finance feed purchases, if needed.

AgriInsurance is a federal-provincial-producer cost-shared program. Support for the program is provided by the governments of Canada and Manitoba under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership. 

Quotes

“Our livestock producers play a critical role in our food supply and our economy, and we need to do everything we can to support them, especially in the face of these dry conditions. These program changes will ensure producers in Manitoba receive claim payouts faster, so they can source other feed options as quickly as possible.”

- The Honourable Heath MacDonald, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

“We recognize that some of Manitoba’s livestock producers are facing challenging conditions with the lack of precipitation in certain regions of the province. With pastures drying up and minimal sources of feed for livestock, it’s important to give producers the resources they need to maintain their herds. These measures will help to improve cashflow for Manitoba’s livestock producers and provide additional options to access feed.”

- Ron Kostyshyn, Manitoba Minister of Agriculture

Quick facts

  • The AgriInsurance program is a business risk management program for Manitoba farmers to protect against production shortfalls and quality losses caused by natural perils. In the case of extreme weather events that impact production such as drought or excess moisture, the AgriInsurance program provides predictable coverage producers can depend on when planning for the upcoming growing season.

  • Manitoba has a high level of AgriInsurance participation, with over 90% of annual crop acres and more than 7,400 farms enrolled in the program.

Associated links

Contacts

For media:

Annie Cullinan
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
annie.cullinan@agr.gc.ca

Media Relations
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
613-773-7972
1-866-345-7972
aafc.mediarelations-relationsmedias.aac@agr.gc.ca
Follow us on Facebook, X, YouTube, Instagram, and LinkedIn
Web: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Manitoba media requests for general information, contact Communications and Engagement: newsroom@gov.mb.ca

Manitoba media requests for ministerial comment, contact Cabinet Communications: cabcom@manitoba.ca

Page details

Date modified: