Province ups its feeder loan guarantee pot to $225 million

By ANNA SMITH Local Journalism Initiative on August 30, 2025.

asmith@medicinehatnews.com

The Government of Alberta says it is supporting the rural economy by increasing the overall limit for the Feeder Associations Loan Guarantee Program to $225 million.

As demand for Alberta beef continues to grow internationally, the province recognizes that part of the hard earned reputation for top-quality beef production is owed to hard work and dedication of feeder associations, which help livestock producers get financing to buy animals and grow their herds.

“Alberta is a beef province, and livestock is a huge part of our agricultural industry. Our cattle and sheep producers put food on tables in our province and around the world,” said RJ Sigurdson, Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation. “Increasing the limit on Alberta’s loan guarantee program will ensure thousands of producers across the province have access to the capital they need to keep producing Alberta’s world-renowned beef.”

FALGP helps local, producer-run co-operatives get competitive financing to ensure they can continue being a player in the global market, says the province, which is vital as beef prices continue to increase.

Since its establishment in 1936, the program has provided more than $12 billion in loans, and will continue to help producers grow and diversify operations by ensuring they have access to the capital they need.

“With cattle prices as high as they are right now, an increase to the program is critical. Getting this increase will be absolutely huge,” says producer Dustin Lamb. “Access to capital is incredibly important and helps producers, like myself, to grow and thrive. The program was a huge part of me coming back to the farm that my family started and will be instrumental in keeping it going.”

The program typically finances 17 to 24 per cent of the calf crop each year, providing a significant portion of the industry’s lending requirement, via low-interest, government-backed financing.

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