(Josh Hall/rdnewsNOW)

By Josh Hall | @Vancan19

mooosic to producers' ears

Livestock producers glowing about increased access to provincial low-cost loans

Aug 28, 2025 | 10:25 AM

The Government of Alberta is increasing access to low-cost loans for livestock producers, and the industry seems fairly happy about it.

The increase is specifically to the lending limit on the Feeder Associations Loan Guarantee Program (FALGP).

The program has been utilized enough to reach its previous limit of $150 million, and will now go to $225 million.

“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,” says 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.”

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In a nutshell, and according to the province, FALGP helps local, producer-run cooperatives get competitive financing to ensure they can continue being a player in the global market. As beef prices continue to increase, the program will ensure producers have access to the capital needed to grow and diversify their operations, they say.

The program was established in 1936, and has provided more than $12 billion in loans.

“This increase in funding will see our 45 feeder associations across the province have access to funding that is critically needed to support Alberta’s livestock industry,” says George L’Heureux, chair, Feeder Association of Alberta.

“Without this kind of support, our industry would be facing a dire shortfall in available lending at the local feeder associations across the province. The rapid escalation in the cost of livestock simply makes it unfeasible to operate at previous levels and the last thing we need is to see any pressure on overall beef numbers in the province.”

Dustin Lamb, a livestock producer in the Balzac area, adds that with cattle prices so high, the program’s increase is critical.

“Getting this increase will be absolutely huge,” he says.

“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, the government notes.

More about the program and its eligibility is here.