Agriculture minister Bob Bjorneru d says Saskatchewan farmers should take a good look at crop insurance if they want extra help because of weather problems this year.
The deadline to apply or make changes is March 31.
He told the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan annual meeting there is no guarantee farmers who don’t have crop insurance coverage will receive money from programs that are announced in response to emergencies such as flooding.
He said his cabinet colleagues have asked why farmers who don’t insure their crops should qualify for special payments. Federal minister Gerry Ritz has raised the same question.
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“I guess the feeling is from our caucus, and the federal government too, if you aren’t taking advantage yourself of insurance programs that are out there, then should you qualify for any additional dollars that are sent out?” he told reporters.
The federal and provincial governments approved an excess moisture program last year for which all farmers could qualify. Flooding could be a problem again this year, but there is no specific program in the works to deal with it.
Bjornerud said he isn’t saying producers wouldn’t qualify for a special payment, but they should be concerned.
He said he knows crop insurance hasn’t always provided good cover-a ge for the cost. But he hopes improvements made over the past few years will attract more participants. About 30 percent of farmers do not take the coverage.
He said farmers are spending more money to plant crops, which adds to their risk, but are not taking steps to protect that investment.
