Saskatchewan farmers struggling to bring in the late harvest have an extra two weeks to make crop insurance claims.
The Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corp. last week said it would extend the Nov. 15 deadline for claims and extension requests to Dec. 1.
“Because of difficult conditions and the limited progress of harvest in October we have extended the deadline to register claims and insurance extensions,” said agriculture minister Bob Bjornerud.
“This will give producers coverage as they work to get their crops off the field.”
Read Also
Research looks to control flea beetles with RNAi
A Vancouver agri-tech company wants to give canola growers another weapon in the never-ending battle against flea beetles.
Producers who believe they have a claim and still have crop in the field closer to Dec. 1 should contact the corporation to register the claim and an extension.
Warmer, windy weather through much of the grain belt late last week likely allowed some farmers to get the last of their crops off. As of Nov. 2, the province estimated there was still 20 percent of the 2009 crop in the field.
The harvest was nearly complete in the southwest, with 97 percent done, and least advanced in the north where only 68 percent of the crop was off.
Federal agriculture minister Gerry Ritz said farmers are focused on finishing harvest and paperwork can wait.
Crops that can’t be harvested until spring will be eligible for 100 percent wildlife damage compensation. Farmers don’t have to be crop insurance participants to qualify for this coverage.
