Record payments were made to producers who participated in the Saskatchewan forage rainfall insurance program this year.
The governments of Saskatchewan and Canada announced Sept. 5 that $60.4 million was paid in 17 forage risk zones. Most payments were made in the southwest and west-central parts of the province after drier than normal conditions. This region contains most native grazing acres and about 80 percent of the insured acres are in the area.
Saskatchewan agriculture minister David Marit said in a news release more than 90 percent of insured acres enrolled in the program received a payment. Those payments were issued Aug. 18.
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“We are seeing this program respond to producers’ needs where precipitation shortages result in feed and pasture shortfalls,” he said. “I encourage producers to continually reassess options available through the full suite of business risk management programs.”
According to Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corp., more than three million acres are insured under the forage rainfall program, representing about 20 percent of eligible acres.
In 2022, the program paid $43.6 million and in 2021, it paid $51.1 million.
Weather-based claims are calculated automatically based on information from the weather stations that producers selected for their insurance.
Fire insurance remains in place on those acres until March 31, 2024.
Federal agriculture minister Lawrence MacAulay said BRM programs are in place to provide stability against income and production loss.
