Nova Scotia farmers affected by this year’s extreme weather events can still receive assistance under the AgriStability program, even if they did not previously enrol.

“Wildfires, wet conditions and floods have had a devastating impact on Nova Scotia’s agriculture industry this year. By allowing late participation in the AgriStability risk management program, we are ensuring producers have the time and support they need to protect their operations.”

- Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

“Nova Scotia's agricultural businesses have faced real challenges due to several extreme weather events this year. That’s why we are working with the government of Canada to help the agriculture sector. We are giving farmers who need income support more opportunity to get it, if their incomes have dropped sharply due to damaging rains, extreme heat, wildfires or other conditions.”

- Greg Morrow, Agriculture Minister, Nova Scotia

• Although the April 30, 2023 deadline has passed, the Department of Agriculture, in collaboration with the federal government, has agreed to implement late participation

• AgriStability compensates margin declines greater than 30% at 80 cents for every dollar of decline past that point

• to encourage proactive enrollment, payments to those who sign up late will be reduced by 20%

• the provincial and federal governments announced the new Sustainable CAP bilateral agreement in May 2023 and will invest $46.25 million over five years in Nova Scotia’s agriculture sector, in addition to investing in several business risk management programs for the sector

• enrolling in AgriStability can provide farmers access to other credit options, like the federal Advanced Payments Program, which offers low-cost cash advances

Associated links

• AgriStability program
• Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP)

For media:

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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Bruce Nunn
Department of Agriculture 
902-476-6454
Bruce.X.Nunn@novascotia.ca