Changes are coming to the AgriStability program as Federal, Provincial, and Territorial Ministers of Agriculture met for a virtual meeting last week. Federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Heath MacDonald and Saskatchewan Minister of Agriculture Daryl Harrison announced Saskatchewan producers will see changes to AgriStability for the 2025 program year.
"Now is the time for unity, and we are working together to deliver for producers right across the country to make sure our programs work for them," said MacDonald. "That is why, at our meeting last week, we agreed to make changes to AgriStability so that producers facing trade uncertainty and dry conditions have more protection."
The Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation (SCIC) will immediately implement program changes as it responds to ongoing international trade concerns.
For the 2025 program year only, AgriStability participants will see an increase in the compensation rate from 80 per cent to 90 per cent. This means producers who access a benefit will now receive 90 cents on every dollar of eligible margin decline, generating larger payments.
"Supporting producers with immediate changes to AgriStability increases the effectiveness of the program," said Harrison. "Reliable and effective business risk management programs help protect against large declines in producers' margins and are an important tool for a strong agricultural sector in Saskatchewan."
Also, for the 2025 program year only, the maximum payment cap will double, from $3 million to $6 million per operation.
Beginning in the 2026 program year, AgriStability will be adjusting the feed inventory pricing for livestock producers. The change is for the purpose of capturing the feed inventory valuation method for inventories destined to be used on the farm and not sold. This change ensures program calculations properly reflect farm realities, especially in years of dry conditions.
AgriStability allowable expenses are being considered for the 2026 program year. These could include items such as feed expenses from grazing on rented pasture as an eligible expense, which means if a producer rents pasture, AgriStability would capture the value of the feed consumed by livestock and include it as an allowable expense.
"Farmers, particularly livestock producers, will be pleased with these improvements in risk management," Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS) President Bill Prybylski said. "The permanent changes in feed accounting and cost adjustments mean the unique hurdles they face are finally being acknowledged. APAS is thrilled to witness these positive developments and advises all farmers to consider what AgriStability has to offer for protecting their businesses."
Prybylski was joined by Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities President Bill Huber, Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association President Jeff Yorga, and Saskatchewan Cattle Association Chair Chad Ross in commending the change.
From 2018 to 2023, AgriStability has paid over $645 million in benefits. Payments are trending higher for the 2024 program year, according to the province, compared to the past 15 years.