CROP INSURANCE EXTENDING SEEDING DEADLINES

With much of the province affected by excessive moisture, the Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation (SCIC) is working to help its customers by extending seeding deadlines.

"Agricultural programs must work at the farm gate and when the current rain pushed seeding beyond application deadlines the deadlines had to change," said Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz. "Farmers constantly adapt to the realities of weather and we are proud to work with the provincial government to make sure Crop Insurance deadlines fit what farmers need."

"We recognize that seeding is well behind average across the province with excess moisture preventing producers from getting into the fields," Agriculture Minister Bob Bjornerud said. "While I hope this extension will help producers get their seed in the ground and still be insured, we all realize the best solution to this situation would be some warm, dry weather."

For areas with longer growing seasons, including the west-central, Moose Jaw and Estevan areas, Crop Insurance customers will now be able to seed and insure all crops, except chickpeas, by June 20. In the rest of the province, Crop Insurance customers will now have full yield-loss coverage on any crop, except chickpeas, seeded by June 15. In these same areas, customers can seed and insure barley, oats, mustard, peas and polish canola up to June 20.

"Our members have expressed concern about Crop Insurance seeding deadlines given the wet weather this spring," SARM President David Marit said. "We appreciate the recognition of these challenges and the seeding deadline extension, which will give more producers an opportunity to seed their crop."

"This has been one of the wettest years on record in rural Saskatchewan and has caused major seeding delays in many parts of the province," APAS President Greg Marshall said. "We are pleased Crop Insurance is being flexible and extending these deadlines to help address the needs of producers."

If Crop Insurance customers are still unable to seed by the new deadlines, they can access the Unseeded Acreage benefit as of June 20. The benefit provides $50 per eligible claim acre to Crop Insurance customers on land that is too wet to seed.

Customers are also reminded to submit their Seeded Acreage Reports (SAR) and Stored Grain Declarations to SCIC by June 25.

Crop Insurance is jointly funded by the Governments of Canada and Saskatchewan.

For more information, producers can contact their local customer service office, call 1-888-935-0000 or visit www.saskcropinsurance.com.

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For more information, contact:

Daniel Jungwirth
Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation
Melville
Phone: 306-728-7427
Email: daniel.jungwirth@scic.gov.sk.ca

Meagan Murdoch
Office of the Honorable Gerry Ritz
Ottawa
Phone: 613-773-1059