WHEREAS the pasture insurance component of forage insurance was available to Alberta farmers until the 2000 growing year;AND WHEREAS continued drought in the northeast region of Alberta, and now all of Alberta, is putting severe stress on forage resources and the sustainability of Alberta cow herds;AND WHEREAS all other crop insurance options now have reduced premium and revised programs;AND WHEREAS Alberta farmers are again very interested in being able to purchase a revised pasture insurance program to reduce risk and economic stress of their valuable summer grazing plans, thereby sustaining the Alberta beef industry;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Alberta Association of Municipal Districts and Counties urge the Alberta Agriculture Financial Services Corporation to reinstate the pasture portion of the forage insurance program, and conduct a full review of the program in order to establish further improvements or changes in the future.

1999 A.F.S.C. Pasture Insurance Statistics were as follows: Provincially, 1,537 Contracts were signed with an additional 167 being taken out for Community Pasture. The number of acres insured Provincially for pasture was 2,019,838.Community Pasture totaled 159,383 acres. Dollars paid out for Pasture Insurance Land totaled $3,407,293.Dollars paid out for Pasture Customers calculated at $408,834.

The AAMDC has no resolutions currently in effect with respect to this issue.