Livestock producers in Manitoba facing drought conditions will receive new financial support through updates to the AgriInsurance program, jointly announced by the federal and provincial governments.
The Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation (MASC) is implementing several measures to help farmers improve cash flow and secure feed for their animals during the dry season.
One major change is a 40% quality adjustment on yield appraisals for drought-affected cereal crops—such as wheat, oats, barley, fall rye, triticale, and grain corn—that are converted to livestock feed. A similar adjustment was last used in 2021, when over 100,000 acres of grain crops were redirected to feed livestock.
Additional supports for producers with forage and pasture insurance coverage include:
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Deferred premium deductions on forage insurance claims filed before October 1, 2025
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Partial claim payments on forage and pasture insurance when feasible, to provide faster access to funds
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Grazing flexibility, allowing livestock to graze insured forages after the first cut without affecting claim calculations
MASC is also offering the option for lending clients to defer loan payments and will provide advice on financing feed purchases if necessary.
AgriInsurance is a cost-shared program funded by the federal and Manitoba governments, along with producers. It helps farmers manage risks related to yield and quality losses caused by weather events like drought or excess moisture.
More than 90% of Manitoba’s annual crop acres are currently insured through the program, with over 7,400 farms enrolled.
These changes aim to provide timely financial relief and greater flexibility to Manitoba’s livestock producers as they manage the impacts of ongoing dry conditions.
