SCIC office officially opened

On September 20 Premier Brad Wall and Agriculture Minister Bob Bjornerud officially opened the expanded Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation (SCIC) Head Office. The SCIC Head Office was expanded in order to accommodate staff to administer the AgriStability Program.

SCIC began administering the AgriStability program in January 2010 to provide local service to producers and create a more timely, reliable and responsive program. Local administration of the program created 110 new jobs at SCIC's Head Office in Melville. Until the expansion was complete, AgriStability staff were working at temporary office locations in Melville.

"Our farmers and ranchers play a valuable role in our provincial economy and they deserve the best service possible," Wall said. "We brought the AgriStability administration home to Saskatchewan to provide a more reliable and responsive program."

"Our government is committed to improving programs and services for producers," Bjornerud said. "Staff are working to process AgriStability applications in a timely manner and focusing on delivering local, reliable service for farmers and ranchers."

The expansion includes a new building addition, which will more than double the Head Office space at SCIC from 24,016 square feet to 56,803 square feet. Renovations are also underway in the original SCIC building and are expected to be completed by the end of November.

In addition to the 110 new AgriStability staff at SCIC Head Office in Melville, 30 new AgriStability staff are working in 21 rural SCIC offices throughout Saskatchewan.