The federal and provincial government in Canada are working together to support farmers in Nova Scotia after a severe drought affected the region in 2025. They have announced funding of up to $25 million to help livestock and wild blueberry producers recover losses.
The drought, described as one of the worst in many years, caused serious challenges for farmers. Many farms faced financial pressure due to low water levels, reduced feed supply, and lower crop production. This new support program aims to help farmers manage these difficulties and continue their operations.
“The extreme drought conditions in 2025 created significant challenges for producers in Nova Scotia. We understand that support is needed to continue to grow and build resilience across our agriculture sector. This additional assistance through the AgriRecovery framework, will help to ensure producers can access critical funding,” said Heath MacDonald, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food.
The funding will be provided through the AgriRecovery program. This program is designed to help farmers deal with extraordinary costs after natural disasters. It supports recovery efforts and helps farms return to normal business activities.
Under this initiative, the federal government will cover 60% of the funding, contributing up to $15 million, while the Nova Scotia government will cover the remaining 40%, up to $10 million.
“Nova Scotia farmers and producers faced an extremely difficult year as a result of last summer’s drought. We have been working closely with industry and producers throughout this situation, and this funding will help operations recover and continue contributing to Nova Scotia’s food supply and rural economy,” said Greg Morrow, Agriculture Minister, Nova Scotia.
This financial support will mainly benefit dairy, beef, and sheep farmers, along with wild blueberry producers. These sectors were identified as being significantly affected by drought-related costs during a formal assessment. Together, these industries contribute around $315 million each year to Nova Scotia’s agricultural economy.
Government leaders have shared that the goal of this initiative is to help farmers recover and build a stronger agricultural sector. Officials emphasized that supporting farmers is important for maintaining the province’s food supply and rural economy.
“Last year’s drought hit our farms hard, and those impacts are still being felt on operations across Nova Scotia today. Farmers have been carrying these losses and making difficult decisions for months, so this funding will provide important assistance as they continue their recovery. We are pleased to see this program respond to those needs and provide support to eligible producers across the province,” said Alicia King, President, Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture.
Farm representatives also welcomed the funding, noting that many farmers are still dealing with the effects of last year’s drought. They said the assistance will help producers manage ongoing challenges and make better decisions for the future.
The program is part of a larger effort to respond to the drought and works alongside existing support measures. Farmers will be informed once applications for funding are available.