Richard Froese

For the Lakeside Leader

Big Lakes County (BLC) has been added to the federal list of prescribed regions for the 2025 Livestock Tax Deferral Program.

The program provides financial relief to producers in areas impacted by severe drought or other extreme conditions, allowing them to defer a portion of the taxable income from the sale of breeding livestock, says an Aug. 20 BLC news release.

Big Lakes requested the tax deferral after declaring a municipal state of agricultural disaster at its Aug. 13 council meeting, because of drought.

“The lack of moisture is devastating crops and pastures,” says BLC Reeve Tyler Airth in an Aug. 13 news release. “Livestock feed is scarce and expensive and mental and financial strain is mounting.”

The M.D. of Smoky River, based in Falher, is also on the list, after council declared an agricultural disaster.

“The primary impact is to ranchers who have seen losses of up to 80 per cent of their hay crop and severe deterioration of pasture land,” says Smoky River Reeve Robert Brochu.

In northwestern Alberta, the list includes M.D. of Greenview, Northern Lights County, Woodlands County, Birch Hills County, Saddle Hills County, M.D. of Spirit River, Grande Prairie County, and Mackenzie County.

To defer income under the Livestock Tax Deferral program, the breeding herd must have been reduced by at least 15 per cent.

In an Aug. 18 Government of Canada news release, the federal Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Heath Mac Donald says, “as we continue to see the very real and challenging effect of climate change, Canada’s new government is committed to supporting our livestock producers. By offering a tax deferral option to those affected areas, we are helping folks manage uncertainty, make informed business decisions and safeguard their livestock.”