Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation Pilots New Satellite-Based Forage Insurance Project For 2026 Crop Year.

Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation (MASC) is piloting a new approach to offering forage insurance for the 2026 crop year, aimed at reducing reporting requirements and improving production estimates for Manitoba forage producers through satellite-based technology, federal Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Heath MacDonald and Manitoba Agriculture Minister Ron Kostyshyn announced today.

“This pilot project explores how modern technology can reduce reporting requirements while keeping programs accurate and reliable for producers,” said MacDonald. “By working with Manitoba and industry partners, we’re helping ensure that risk management tools continue to meet the real needs of forage producers.”

Satellite Technology Streamlines Reporting and Improves Accuracy

The project will use advanced satellite-based technology to estimate soil moisture and predict forage production, helping streamline the reporting process while maintaining program accuracy and integrity.

“Producers work hard every day to keep their operations running, and they deserve programs that work just as hard for them,” said Kostyshyn. “This pilot project is an important step toward reducing paperwork and improving accuracy, so forage producers can spend more time in the field and less time on reporting.”

MASC will use this technology alongside its traditional reporting structure to gather insights and feedback from participants. This approach will help determine whether the technology can be adopted permanently within the Forage Insurance program.

Pilot Enrollment Expands to 50 Producers at No Additional Cost

Producer organizations have identified reporting requirements as a barrier to participation in forage insurance. Working in partnership with producers and industry will help to ensure risk management programs meet producers’ needs.

MASC will offer participation in the pilot to approximately 50 forage insurance participants for the 2026 crop year at no additional cost. Working with organizations, such as the Manitoba Beef Producers, MASC will select participants to ensure a representative sample across regions and production systems.

The Forage Insurance program is part of MASC’s AgriInsurance suite, which provides predictable protection against natural perils such as drought, excess moisture and other extreme weather events.

MASC will provide further information to producers participating in the pilot.

Source - https://www.discoverwestman.com