Saskatchewan farmers who buy crop insurance have been given more time to get their crops in the ground and still be insured.
They will also be eligible for the unseeded acreage benefit if they can’t access their land.
The Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corp. announced last week that excess moisture meant many farmers either couldn’t seed before deadlines that would cover them for the first fall frost or couldn’t get to fields that could be seeded.
Acting general manager Shawn Jaques said some farmers were running out of crop options.
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As a result, the deadline to seed and still have insurance coverage has been extended to June 15 in most of the province and for most crops.
In areas with longer growing seasons, including Kindersley, Rosetown, Leader, Swift Current, Moose Jaw and Estevan, customers have until June 20 to seed.
Barley, oats, mustard, peas and Polish canola can be seeded until June 20 in all areas.
Crops that aren’t included in the extension are chickpeas, lentils, dry beans and potatoes. They require more days to mature and should have been seeded well ahead of these dates regardless of the growing area.
Jaques said the extension will allow some farmers breathing room.
For example, canola would typically be seeded no later than June 8 in most of the province.
“Now we’ve extended it in the majority of the province to June 15,” he said.
“In eastern Saskatchewan that gives them probably a 10 to 12 day extension to seed canola.”
The corporation’s goal is to make sure farmers can seed as much of their crop as possible, he added.
“When we took a look at what producers were experiencing this year, the wet conditions, we’re willing to share in that risk,” Jaques said.
Producers who can’t access their land to seed fields that could otherwise be seeded should contact a crop insurance office about eligibility for the unseeded acreage benefit.
The benefit pays $70, less seeding intensity, insurance intensity and a five percent deductible, for land that couldn’t be seeded by June 20.
Unseeded acreage claims can be registered beginning June 15 in areas where there is extreme moisture and land is not in condition to be seeded.
