Crop insurance enrolment extended in Saskatchewan due to supply-chain issues

The deadline for producers in Saskatchewan to enrol in the crop insurance program has been extended.

Officials said they extended the deadline due to supply-chain issues posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

They said this caused delay in the delivery of the 2022 packages to producers’ addresses.

“We want to ensure producers have additional time to review their operation’s risk management plans for the upcoming growing season,” David Marit, Saskatchewan’s agriculture minister, said in a statement Monday.

“We understand the challenges the Saskatchewan agriculture industry is currently facing, and I encourage producers to take the time now to review all crop insurance options and select features best suited for their operation.”

Details of the 2022 crop insurance program were rolled out on Feb. 22 and packages were circulated and distributed to producers on March 10.

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Officials said producers can expect to receive their packages in the next few days.

“Prairie producers continue to inspire us with their resiliency and ability to rise to the challenges of the past year,” said Marie-Claude Bibeau, federal minister of agriculture and agri-food.

“Risk management programs like crop insurance are essential to help producers prepare for the future, and we want to ensure they have the time they need to make decisions that are right for their business.”

Producers are facing a crop insurance premium increase in 2022, along with an increase in coverage.

Average coverage through the Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corp. (SCIC) will reach a record $405 per acre, a 48 per cent increase from last year.

SCIC said the higher coverage amount is due to higher commodity prices and increased yield coverage.

Premiums are increasing to $12.05 per acre in 2022 compared with $8.59 in 2021.

Producers must select insured crops and coverage levels or make additional changes by April 14 or coverage will remain the same as the previous year.

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