With many areas of the province receiving excess moisture this spring, the Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation will be extending seeding deadlines for 2011, as it did in 2010.
"Just as weather is often unpredictable, its effects on the farm gate can vary from year to year," Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz said. "I'm pleased to continue to work with the Province of Saskatchewan to make common sense adjustments to our programs...so that farmers can continue to feed families in Canada and around the world."
"Excess moisture is again preventing producers from getting into the fields and seeding progress is delayed," Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister Bob Bjornerud said. "While I hope the extension will give producers some extra time to 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 Kindersley, Rosetown, Leader, Swift Current, Moose Jaw and Estevan, Crop Insurance customers will now be able to seed and insure most crops until June 20. In the rest of the province, Crop Insurance customers will now have insurance on any crop seeded by June 15, other than barley, oats, mustard, peas and polish canola which can now be seeded and insured up to June 20. Crops exclusive of these deadlines for the entire province are chickpeas, lentils, dry beans and potatoes because they require more days to reach maturity.
If Crop Insurance customers are still unable to seed by the new deadlines, due to excess moisture, they can access their Unseeded Acreage feature as of June 20. In areas with extreme moisture where land will not be in a condition to seed, producers can register Unseeded Acreage claims as of June 15. The Unseeded Acreage Payment provides $70 per acre, less seeding and insurance intensities and a five percent deductible.
"Farmers in many parts of the province have had difficulty seeding due to excess moisture," SARM President David Marit said. "We appreciate this extension which will give producers more time to get their crops in the ground and still be insured."
"For the second straight year farmers have had to deal with excess moisture delaying seeding," APAS President Greg Marshall said. "This extension will allow more acres to be insured, which benefits the entire economy."
Producers are encouraged to call 1-888-935-0000, contact their local office or visit www.saskcropinsurance.com.
