Rainfall across much of dry Saskatchewan came only days after the provincial and federal governments announced assistance for farmers affected by drought.
It was a happy series of events for many producers worried about struggling crops and dry pasture conditions.
Parts of the province have seen more than 100 millimetres of rain and showers persisted in many areas, although dry pockets remain.
Even with recent rain, hay crops in the province will be short, said Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association president Bill Huber, and some will be able to take advantage of additional options provided by government.
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Those include a crop insurance deadline extension for seeding crops to green feed. The new deadline is July 15 and will allow producers to seed and insure any cereal green feed crop even if they have not previously endorsed green feed on their insurance contracts.
“Current dry conditions across the province are forcing producers to revisit how they are managing their forage and pastures,” said Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister David Marit when announcing the new options June 19, when rain had yet to make an appearance.
Producers were also told to register a pre-harvest claim if they do not want to carry a crop through to harvest. If they do leave the crop until harvest and have reduced yield, they can file a post-harvest claim.
“Producers concerned about the dry conditions should contact their local crop insurance office to review the options available for claims, compensation and the requirements for the options they choose,” the government news release advised.
Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corp. can be reached at 888-935-0000 or at www.saskcropinsurance.com.
SCIC also announced a waiver of the 60-day continuous criteria for the Western Livestock Price Insurance Program. It provides an option to buy insurance based on the forward market price for cattle.
Last week’s government announcement also included an extension of the enrolment deadline for 2019 AgriStability. Enrolment deadline is now July 2.
Saskatchewan’s ministry of environment has lands that could be available for grazing until Sept. 1, the government said. Information on that is available at 844-306-3933.
Crown leaseholders with extra grazing or hay resources can request permission to sub-lease their pasture, graze other cattle, harvest some or all hay on the lease and sell hay from the lease.
They are advised to call the ministry before making those arrangements.
The government said it also recognized the stress that drought creates and reminded producers of the Farm Stress Line available at all times by calling 800-667-4442.
