Hurricane Fiona has caused significant damage to agricultural properties, barns and storage infrastructure, as well as to grain and horticultural crops affecting communities in the Atlantic region. Today, the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, travelled to Nova Scotia to meet with farmers and hear how the storm impacted farm operations, families and livelihoods.
Minister Bibeau toured affected areas of Antigonish and Pictou counties with Nova Scotia's Minister of Agriculture, the Honourable Greg Morrow. Ministers Bibeau and Morrow visited livestock farms, fruit and vegetable farms, and a maple syrup producer. They saw firsthand the widespread damage caused by the storm to Nova Scotia's agriculture sector, as well as the fallout from extended power failures that affected a number of farming operations.
During a townhall with the Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture, Minister Bibeau and Minister Morrow spoke with local farmers and heard about the devastation many experienced. They also heard stories about the courage and resilience of Nova Scotians in the hours and days following, as they coped with property damage and long periods without power.
The governments of Canada and Nova Scotia continue to stand with farmers and communities who are feeling the impacts of Hurricane Fiona.
A suite of business risk management (BRM) programs is available to help producers facing the fallout from Hurricane Fiona. These programs help producers manage risks that threaten the viability of their farms, and provide protection against different types of income and production losses.
Producers are encouraged to apply for interim payments under AgriStability to help them cope with immediate financial challenges. The governments of Canada and Nova Scotia have agreed to increase the 2022 AgriStability interim benefit payment percentage from 50% to 75%, so producers can access a greater portion of their benefit early to meet their urgent needs. Nova Scotia is also opening up late participation in AgriStability to farmers who did not register in 2022, so they can take advantage of this important income support.
Recovering from the widespread impacts of Hurricane Fiona will require a collective effort. The Government of Canada will continue work in partnership with provincial governments to respond to the needs of the agricultural sector impacted by the storm and support the long-term recovery of impacted regions.
