New Agriculture Financial Services Corp. board chair
An Alberta cattle producer with years of experience on multiple boards, Smith-Fraser brings a wealth of knowledge, proven leadership and a passion for agriculture to the role. She has previously served with Results Driven Agriculture Research, Alberta Beef Producers and the Canadian Maine-Anjou Association.
AFSC’s board is made of diverse representatives from Alberta’s private sector, who ensure it is aligned with the needs of the province’s livestock and crop producers and agribusinesses. AFSC continues to focus on making its services more efficient and responsive.
AFSC is administering Alberta’s recently announced $340-million Canada-Alberta Livestock Feed Assistance Initiative, designed to help producers cover feed and water access costs during this difficult dry year.
“Kelly Smith-Fraser is well-known in Alberta’s agriculture industry as a smart, driven leader. She’ll provide the leadership AFSC requires to meet our farmers’ and ranchers’ needs, which is more important now than ever.”Devin Dreeshen, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry
“It’s an exciting time in the agriculture industry, especially in Alberta. I look forward to helping AFSC find even more ways to support our farmers, ranchers and agribusiness entrepreneurs.”Kelly Smith-Fraser, chair, Agriculture Financial Services Corporation
As a provincial Crown corporation, AFSC provides loans, crop insurance and farm income disaster assistance programs to farmers, agribusinesses and other small businesses.
Quick facts
- Last year, AFSC insured 14.9 million acres of crops.
- Generally, AFSC insures 70 to 75 per cent of crops planted every year.
- Earlier this year, Alberta’s government announced a 20 per cent reduction in insurance premiums, saving farmers and ranchers an estimated $70 million.
