b'FUNDINGWaitingon ClarityAs the Alberta government continues to make changes to how agriculture programs are delivered in the province, producer groups are looking for certainty on future spending. WITH THE United Conservative Party (UCP) over halfway through their first government mandate, they have made numerous changes to Alberta Agriculture and Forestry (AAF) with producer groups now more in charge of programs. But as producer groups work to fill the services void, they want more certainty on future plans for AAF.We need to know for the future where its going to be because anything to with research especially, its not year-to-year, its five-year or 10-year projects, Dave Bishop, Alberta Barley board chair, says in a phone interview. Are we going to have X amount of dollars, every year or is it going to change from year-to-year?Producer groups across the province are stepping up to take over programs which were previously run by the provincial government. The groups are understanding of the provincial financial situation and are willing to work with the government on solutions for providing agriculture programming but want assurance of future spending plans.AAF expenses have varied over the last decade, provincial budget documents show. Between 2010 to 2020 the budget expenses for AAF have ranged from $872,886 to $1,940,760, with the lowest year being in 2020.The New Democratic Partys (NDP) budget projections ranged from $1,161,605 to $1,940,760 during their years in office. The first year the UCP took office in 2019, there was $1,410,540 in projected expenses for AAF, but in 2020 the budgetary numbers dropped 38 per cent to $872,886. Funding cuts were recorded for all departments/programs (except for debt servicing costs), with $0 being budgeted for climate change initiatives.The 2020 budget documents note AAF is committed to the ongoing review of programs and services to ensure the best possible outcomes are being achieved for Albertans. It also notes the UCP are committed to reducing red tape. The ministry plans to have a one-third reduction in the number of 48seed.ab.ca'