The Manitoba government will provide farmers and producers with more than $150 million in supports, including $10 million to match federal AgriStability funding, Premier Wab Kinew announced today.
“We’re standing up for Westman and Western Canada, and protecting your jobs,” said Kinew. “With $150 million in supports for agriculture, we’re making sure that farmers and producers can weather the economic uncertainty we’re facing and protecting jobs in the agriculture industry.”
The Manitoba government will provide $10 million in additional matching funds for the AgriStability program, as well as $140.8 million for business risk management programming including AgriInsurance, Wildlife Damage Compensation and AgriInvest.
The premier noted the province is also working with farmers, producers and businesses to protect jobs, strengthen Manitoba’s economy and respond to tariffs from China and the United States, in addition to working with Keystone Agricultural Producers toward a number of shared goals to support Manitoba agriculture including:
- identifying opportunities to remove regulatory barriers to grow value-added food processing businesses;
- advancing trade work in Manitoba’s interest including collaboration with other provinces and engagement with key U.S. states critical to Manitoba’s trading relationship that will be hurt by potential tariffs; and
- advocating to the federal government and working to deliver policies and investments in value-added processing, improvements to business risk management programs and access to the capital producers need.
“As Manitoba’s general farm organization, advocating for the interests of all Manitoba farmers is our top priority,” said Colin Hornby, general manager, Keystone Agricultural Producers. “We are committed to working collaboratively with the Manitoba government to have the perspectives of all Manitoba farmers reflected in any government efforts to address today’s trade challenges and we thank them for giving us a seat at the table.”
Budget 2025’s tariff budget sets aside contingencies to support Manitobans in the face of U.S. tariffs, including $100 million in support for farmers and producers, bringing Manitoba’s total support for agriculture producers to as much as $250 million, the premier noted.
(Government of Manitoba news release)
