Saskatchewan Crop Insurance found an oversight in premiums for some customers late last week, according to provincial Agriculture Minister David Marit.
The premiums were higher than they should be in both the printed package and on Crop Connect. Crop Insurance has been working to resolve the issue. New printed packages and updates to Crop Connect will be made within a week.
“We don’t have the final numbers (of those affected),” said Jeff Morrow, president and chief executive officer with Sask Crop Insurance. “It is a small minority of crops impacted and we also know that in all cases, the premium cost (to the producer) will be lower when we have a resolution.”
Sask Crop Insurance has also released provincial averages for premiums and coverage. Multi-peril insurance coverage averages $389 per acre compared to $440 an acre last year. The premium average was about $14.50 an acre in 2023, while it will be $12.71 an acre this year. There will be an increase in premium rates to reflect losses paid in 2022. Producers’ coverage and premiums are individualized to their operation and claim history.
Sask Crop Insurance is introducing new options for its weather-based programs. Intercrops and additional feed crops will be covered. The Mixed Forage Rainfall Insurance Program protects any forage feed crop not previously covered under weather-based programs, including mixed forage, greenfeed and silage, if seasonal precipitation is below average.
Coverage will also increase under the 2024 Forage Rainfall Insurance Program. Producers will be able to select from three levels of coverage—Low, Medium, and High.
Sask Crop Insurance will add 38 additional weather stations to its network, bringing the total to 224. Nearly all land locations will be within 30 kilometres of at least one weather station.
The changes reflect producer response at Town Hall drought meetings in west-central and southwest Saskatchewan. The Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM), Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS), Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association and the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association all expressed their support for the changes.
March 31st is the deadline for Saskatchewan producers to apply, reinstate or cancel their Crop Insurance contract.
You can listen to the Noon Agribiz to hear comments from David Marit, Jeff Morrow and the Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association.
