The Governments of Canada and Saskatchewan have announced significant temporary changes to AgriStability for the 2025 program year, boosting payments for producers and raising the ceiling on maximum payouts.
The program’s compensation rate will rise from 80 to 90 per cent, meaning farmers enrolled in AgriStability will now receive 90 cents for every dollar of eligible margin decline. The maximum payment per operation will double from $3 million to $6 million for 2025.
The changes come amid a challenging year for agriculture, with ongoing drought conditions in parts of the province including the southwest, and international trade tensions weighing on commodity markets. Officials said these adjustments are intended to “strengthen the predictability and responsiveness of AgriStability” for producers whose income has declined below their historical averages.
While producers must enroll in the program to qualify, eligibility is based not on household income or financial hardship, but on farm business margins compared to a multi-year historical reference margin — a structure designed to ensure that farm businesses, regardless of size or profitability, have a significant cushion against market pressures, competition, and climate volatility.
"The Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) has been strongly advocating on behalf of agricultural producers and ranchers, and we are pleased to hear there will be changes made to the AgriStability Program for 2025," SARM President Bill Huber said.
“Saskatchewan producers are facing rising costs and harsh weather conditions causing drought and feed uncertainty. These changes are a good first step in providing support for farming operations at a time when they need it most.”
AgriStability payouts are triggered when a farm’s current margin drops below 70 per cent of its historical reference margin — effectively smoothing income year-over-year. The payment caps, newly raised to $6 million, are calculated on a per-operation basis, meaning large corporate farms will qualify for higher maximum payments than smaller operations.
From 2018 to 2023, AgriStability has paid over $645 million in benefits. Payments are trending higher for the 2024 program year, compared to the past 15
years.
Permanent changes are also being implemented beginning in 2026, including adjustments to how feed inventory is valued for livestock operations — another reform aimed at making the program more reflective of farm business realities rather than personal financial need.
The federal and provincial governments are cost-sharing these changes under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership. Saskatchewan producers now have until July 31 to enroll in the 2025 program year.