Farmers impacted by drought can now apply for support through 2025 AgriStability Program
News release
January 23, 2026 – Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador – Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
To support the farming and agri-food industry in Newfoundland and Labrador, the Honourable Heath MacDonald, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, and the Honourable Pleaman Forsey, Minister of Forestry, Agriculture and Lands, are announcing measures to assist farmers and producers affected by drought conditions in 2025.
The Federal and Provincial Governments are opening the 2025 AgriStability program to accept late participants. Interested producers must submit their final application by the September 30, 2026 deadline.
Opening late participation for 2025 ensures producers, such as fruit and vegetable growers, can access AgriStability support to help with problems they faced due to extreme dry conditions in 2025.
All farmers and producers are encouraged to apply for federal-provincial cost-shared Business Risk Management Programs for 2026, including:
- AgriStability: Protects producers against large declines in farming income for reasons such as production loss, increased costs and market conditions. The enrollment deadline for the upcoming 2026 program year is April 30, 2026.
- AgriInsurance: Provides producers with production insurance against uncontrollable natural perils. The enrollment deadline is April 30, 2026.
- AgriInvest: Helps producers manage small income declines and make investments to manage risk and improve market income. The deadline to submit AgriInvest program forms is September 30, 2026.
For more information on AgriInsurance, contact the Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Forestry, Agriculture and Lands by phone at 709-637-2378, or by email at SCAP@gov.nl.ca.
For more information on AgriStability or AgriInvest call toll free 1-866-367-8506.
Quotes
"It's important that governments are unified in support of Newfoundland and Labrador farmers when they face stressful and uncertain times. That's why we have made changes to AgriStability, in addition to offering other Business Risk Management programs, to support the producers who were affected by extreme drought in 2025."
- The Honourable Heath MacDonald, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
"Our new government is working to build a future where opportunities thrive, and government works for all of us. As partners in the national Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, we are committed to finding practical solutions to assist our hard-working farmers and producers and support our rural communities. All farmers and producers are encouraged to apply for programs that protect their valuable products and assist in difficult times."
- The Honourable Pleaman Forsey, Newfoundland and Labrador Minister of Forestry, Agriculture and Lands
Quick facts
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AgriStability protects Canadian producers against large declines in farming income for reasons such as production loss, increased costs and market conditions. It is one of the Business Risk Management (BRM) programs under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP). Farmers are encouraged to make use of BRM programs, like AgriStability, to protect their farming operation and help make Newfoundland and Labrador agriculture strong.
Associated links
Contacts
For media:
Jennica Klassen
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
jennica.klassen@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
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Web: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Linda Skinner
Forestry, Agriculture and Lands
709-637-2284
lindaskinner@gov.nl.ca