AgriRecovery

When natural disaster strikes, existing programs do not always address the extent of farmers' losses. In the past, governments have responded to these natural disasters on a case-by-case basis. This action created uncertainty for farmers while they waited for governments to determine if support was possible and at what level. At their July 11, 2008 meeting, Canada's federal, provincial and territorial Ministers of agriculture reached an important milestone and announced the completion of the multilateral Growing Forward framework. Included in the Business Risk Management suite of programs under Growing Forward is AgriRecovery.

What is AgriRecovery?

AgriRecovery is part of the new suite of Business Risk Management programs and allows federal and provincial governments to jointly respond to natural disasters (e.g., disease, weather) with quick, targeted assistance. The purpose of the program is to help affected producers resume business operations and/or take actions to mitigate the impacts of a disaster as quickly as possible.

AgriRecovery is a framework that provides a process for governments to quickly determine whether or not further assistance beyond existing programming already in place (e.g., CFIA, AgriStability, AgriInsurance) is warranted and if so, what form that assistance should take. Where federal and provincial governments agree that assistance is warranted, the form of assistance will be unique to the specific disaster situation.

The following links go to news releases showing AgriRecovery at work:

• Governments Deliver Urgent Help for Flooded Livestock Producers
• Governments Increase Funding for Water Projects in Southwest Saskatchewan
• Manitoba Livestock Producers Affected by Severe Weather Receive Assistance
• Disaster Assistance Approved for PEI Potato Producers
• Alberta Potato Growers Affected By Potato Cyst Nematode Receive Assistance
• BC Livestock Affected By Bovine Tuberculosis
• Federal Government To Help Saskatchewan Farmers And Ranchers
• Government Of Canada Improves Assistance To Golden Nematode Disaster Program
• Government Of Canada Helps Rebuild New Brunswick Bee Industry

Events which are cyclical, such as pricing cycles, or part of a long-term trend, such as a long term downward trend in prices, would not be considered for AgriRecovery.

The funding of programs implemented under AgriRecovery is cost-shared on a 60/40 basis with the affected province(s).

How does AgriRecovery work?

When a regional disaster strikes:

1. The province may approach the federal government to request an assessment of the situation to determine if assistance is needed through AgriRecovery. Part of this assessment includes how existing programs like AgriStability and AgriInsurance will respond.
   
   
2. In instances where an event is national in scope and upon request from a national organization or the affected provinces, the federal government may initiate an assessment to determine whether assistance through AgriRecovery is warranted.
   
   
3. If governments agree that use of AgriRecovery is warranted to help producers resume business operations and/or take short term action to minimize the impacts of the disaster, then a targeted program response unique to the specific situation is developed in consultation with the affected industry and implemented.
   
   
4. Implementation includes an announcement of the specific program details including, where applicable, how affected producers can apply for assistance.

Growing Forward, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative