BRANDON, Man. – The Manitoba government may give farmers higher crop insurance coverage levels if they use certified seed.
The Manitoba Seed Growers Association is working on a proposal for the change. Speaking at a pulse growers’ meeting, vice-president Brian McElroy said the program would be optional. If negotiations go well, it could be in place for the 1997 crop year.
McElroy said the idea came from a program used in Quebec. Since 1994, farmers there must use certified seed for wheat, barley, oats and soybeans to get crop insurance.
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The Quebec government wanted farmers to reduce their risk and felt the use of certified seed would help, McElroy said. Laval University researchers “have proven that the government has paid out less money with farmers using pedigreed seed and proper management practices,” he said.
Quebec government research also shows farmers get better returns using the seed: It estimates $6 per acre spent on seed returns $32.40 to the farm.
Support for certified seed
McElroy said out of 11,000 growers in Quebec, only 28 used common seed. A survey done by the Quebec farmers’ union showed 95 percent of members support the use of certified seed as a good management practice.
Royalties from the sale of certified seed go back into plant breeding, McElroy said, supporting the development of new varieties.
“This is a rare opportunity we have in this province to kind of take a grasp at the future and maintain the quality we have.”
