The excessively wet growing season in 2010 has called to attention the importance of Crop Insurance. However, in 2011, the rates are increasing, and NDP leader Dwain Lingenfelter was in Yorkton recently to call for a review of Crop Insurance rates in the province.
Lingenfelter takes issue with the rate increases, which he says are an average of 21 per cent. He believes that after a year like 2010, it is unreasonable to increase these rates.
"What we're saying is that there needs to be an immediate roll back of that 21 per cent increase on the 10 million acres of farm land that was flooded or not seeded last year," he details.
Apart from the weather last year, he says that farmers are already facing large increases in the price of diesel fuel and chemical over previous years. Outside of flood areas, Lingenfelter is also demanding a review of the rates overall, to ensure that the rates are fare, and "the farmers from other areas of the province are not being gouged as well."
The increase in rates comes with an increase in the budget and coverage for Crop Insurance in the province, with the coverage increasing to an average of $173 per acre, and the coverage for unseeded acreage being increased to $70 from $50 per eligible acre. Lingenfelter says he is encouraged by the increased coverage, but concerned about where the money for that coverage is coming from.
"The increase in that coverage is a good idea, but I don't think farmers should have to pay for that coverage when they didn't get any crop on that land last year," he concludes.
