Details of the 2012 crop insurance program were announced on Wednesday, February 22.

Saskatchewan agriculture minister Bob Bjornerud made the announcements at the Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation (SCIC) head office in Melville.

“Since being first elected in 2007, we have continually worked to improve the crop insurance program. This began with a crop insurance review in 2008. The review resulted in 12 new program improvements for 2009. We worked to further improve the program in (2010) and 2011,” said Bjornerud

According to Bjornerud, the budget for the 2012 crop insurance program is $177 million and average coverage levels have increased from $173 per acre in 2011 to $174 per acre in 2012.

“In 2012, we are continuing to improve the unseeded acreage benefit. Last years increase in unseeded acreage benefit of $70 per eligible acre will continue and producers will now have the option to purchase additional unseeded acreage coverage. Producers may select an additional $15 per acre or $30 per acre coverage for a total compensation of up to $100 per eligible acre per land they are unable to seed due to excess moisture. This is double the coverage that was available to producers four short years ago,” said Bjornerud.

Crop insurance will also now provide coverage to commercial fruit growers for the replacement of Saskatoon bushes, dwarf sour cherry and haskap fruit trees.

“The fruit industry is an important part of our ag industry in Saskatchewan. We account for 34 per cent of the commercial Saskatoon berry acreage in Canada,” Bjornerud said.

“This program will provide compensation to replace trees that do not establish or are damaged by natural causes such as flooding,” he said.

“To be clear, the program will replace trees that are lost or failed to establish and it is not a production insurance program. The fruit tree insurance program is a direct result of working with Saskatchewan fruit growers and their industry representatives. I hope this program will help address their needs. We are committed to continuing to work with the fruit industry into the future.”

In 2012, establishment benefit values will also increase from $20 to $25 per acre for oats, canary seed, fall rye, spring rye and triticale.

“Starting in 2012, yield cushioning is being expanded to our forage insurance program,” said Bjornerud.

According to information provided by the government of Saskatchewan, this feature limits the impact of consecutive poor growing seasons such as excess moisture or drought on a producer’s coverage level.

“This improvement will create a stronger and more consistent program for our forage producers,” Bjornerud said.

Yorkton-Melville member of Parliament Garry Breitkreuz also spoke on behalf of federal agriculture minister Gerry Ritz.

“Crop insurance has always been an important tool that Saskatchewan farmers use to protect their bottom line against the business risks and uncertainty they face on their farm every day. With broader coverage, crop insurance is now better positioned to help producers mange the risk of excess moisture and flooding,” said Breitkreuz.

According to information provided by the Saskatchewan government, there will be no AgriRecovery program for weather related disasters in 2012 due to this years crop insurance program providing more options and improved coverage for farmers.

“As we’ve seen, disaster relief programs are sometimes necessary. However, they are only a temporary measure. Ad hoc programs are not bankable for either the producer or for the government, this is why we continue to work to improve the crop insurance program,” Bjornerud said.

The deadline for customers to apply for, make changes to or cancel their crop insurance contract is March 31, 2012.

Source - http://www.nipawinjournal.com/