(file photo/farmnewsNOW Staff)

By Alice McFarlane

AgriStability 2019

Farmers show interest in support programs

May 17, 2019 | 4:36 PM

Recent trade disputes have more farmers expressing interest in a business risk management program.

AgriStability Executive Director Warren Ames said the enrollment deadline for AgriStability was recently extended in response to the falling canola prices. He said in 2018 just under 11,000 enrollment notices were issued.

The enrollment deadline for 2019 AgriStability is July 2. Ames said concerns surrounding the ongoing trade dispute with China have created more interest in the program.

“Even before the announcement we’d actually seen an increase in the number of enrollment notices and request for enrollment notices leading up to the deadline,” Ames said. “Since that deadline there has been a consistent interest and conversations about the extension. Right now we have issued and request to issue just a touch over the 12,000 mark for enrollment notices. That`s obviously higher than the paid number in 2018 and with some time left.”

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Ames said producers are very busy now with seeding but he expects that number to climb even higher as the July deadline approaches.

“It’s not hard to enroll and it’s relatively inexpensive from a fee perspective and can help them with the uncertainty with the market and there’s always uncertainty in the growing season,” Ames said. “It’s some additional insurance for the producers that are enrolled in the program that it could be there to help them if they experience those declines.”

Changes made in the new agreement for 2018 and 2019 make it easier to enroll.

“I would encourage producers, when they have time, to carefully consider the program has an option and look at their own situation to see if it fits in their own business risk management plan.” Ames said.

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alice.mcfarlane@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @AliceMcF