AgriStability is funded on a 60/40 basis by the federal and provincial governments.

The business risk management program is designed to trigger during poor financial years when income falls a certain percentage below the reference margin. There are major concerns that lengthy tariff wars with China and possibly the United States will hit farmers hard in the pocketbook.

The new changes do not impact the trigger, but will increase the compensation rate to 90 per cent from 80 per cent. The maximum cap will also double to $6-million.

CJWW Agriculture Director Neil Billinger spoke with well-known agricultural commentator Kevin Hursh about the changes.

Some producers are not enrolled in AgriStability. Hursh says those producers may want to collect their numbers, work with their accountant and get into the program.

Hursh says cow-calf producers may also want to see if AgriStability makes sense for them.

More details can be found on the Agriculture Canada website.