AgriStability further enhanced for 2025 amid trade and market uncertainty

In response to ongoing trade uncertainty, several enhancements have been made to AgriStability for the 2025 program year. The changes were approved by Canada’s agriculture ministers during recent meetings.

The enhancements include:

• increasing the payment rate to 90 per cent, up from 80 per cent
• raising the maximum potential benefit payment to $6 million, up from $3 million

AgriStability supports producers facing trade-related challenges by stabilizing farm incomes during market disruptions, addressing price volatility, and helping farmers manage rising input costs.

“These enhancements come at a critical time for producers,” said Daniel Graham, manager of AgriStability and Pricing at Agriculture Financial Services (AFSC), which administers the program in Alberta.

“Right now, producers are facing a high level of uncertainty as they monitor weather conditions, trade tensions and ongoing tariff threats. AgriStability, as a margin-based program, is best positioned to help producers meet the financial challenge of the coming months.”

In addition to the newly announced enhancements, AgriStability has undergone other changes this year.

Participants now have the option to have their historical margins (reference margin) calculated based on how they report farm income for tax purposes. This new method, known as the optional reference margin or ORM, eliminates the need to provide accrual and inventory information for historical margins, making it easier to participate.