Saskatchewan is preparing to take over administration of AgriStability but has hired just 25 of the 140 people it will need.
Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corp. in Melville will begin processing benefits as of Jan. 1 as it assumes duties from federal employees in Regina and Winnipeg.
General manager Cam Swan said he is confident a full complement will be hired by the end of March when the application load is expected to increase.
Moving the administration to the province from the federal government requires 110 employees at head office and another 30 in rural regional offices.
Current employees were offered the option of taking a job in Melville.
“Most of the 110 will not be from the federal administration,” Swan said.
The crop insurance building will be expanded to accommodate the new employee, although deputy agriculture minister Alanna Koch said an addition was required in any case.
“Right now even crop insurance can barely fit into the building,” she said.
Construction of the two-storey addition will begin in February, and employees should be able to move in 2011.
SCIC leases the building through Government Services. The owner is responsible for the costs of the addition.
In the meantime, two temporary office locations have been set up in Melville to accommodate employees.
Agriculture minister Bob Bjornerud said combining the administration of AgriStability, crop insurance and wildlife damage compensation will create efficiencies.
“Ultimately, we will provide the best possible service,” he said.
Melville mayor Walter Streelasky said the city welcomes the new employees and will benefit from having them there.
Producers who have questions about the program from 2008 and earlier, as well as 2009 fee payments, interim payments and targeted advance payments, should continue to contact Agriculture Canada at 866-367-8506.
