Winter Cereals Canada understands rationale for crop insurance changes

It turns out MASC has been paying out a lot more on winter wheat claims than it has been collecting in premiums

Growers weren’t happy about changes to the crop insurance program for winter wheat outlined at their recent annual meeting, but they had to acknowledge that some changes were justified. In 2014, Manitoba farmers will still be eligible for a reseeding benefit based on 25 per cent of their coverage if their winter wheat fails before



U.S. crop insurance guarantees push big acres

Reuters / Crop insurance that guarantees prices for the 2013 growing season should encourage U.S. farmers to again plant a large number of acres, with soybeans possibly claiming ground from corn, analysts said. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Risk Management Agency set the guarantees March 1, which act as the “floor price” for crop insurance

Crop insurance expands areas for heat-loving crops

This is something farmers have been asking for, especially 
with the release of earlier-maturing varieties

Crop insurance on soybeans, corn, open-pollinated corn, edible beans, sunflowers and lentils is being expanded — on a test basis — across Manitoba this year. Until now, those crops were only insurable in areas deemed to be warm enough, and with enough frost-free days. However, farmers from outside those areas have been asking for coverage,


Other Manitoba crop insurance changes for 2013 and 2014

Expanding crop insurance coverage is just one of the changes for crop insurance in 2013 and 2014. Here are some others. Dollar selections per acre have increased to the following: All crops (excluding potatoes, vegetables and strawberries) $120, $160 and $200. For potatoes, the levels are $250, $500 and $750 and for vegetables and strawberries,

U.S senators propose interim support

washington / reuters Congress would revive disaster-relief programs for farmers and ranchers hurt by drought and other natural catastrophes under a stop-gap bill introduced on Jan. 25 by two key Senate committee leaders. Producers could get up to $100,000 each for losses in 2012 and this year. In particular, ranchers would benefit because they do


AgriStability changes unwelcome

Opinions on the effectiveness of AgriStability may differ, but most feel farmers are getting shortchanged

Producers will have to take a close look at their farm’s finances before deciding if AgriStability is the right program for them in the coming years, say Prairie farm leaders. Last fall, changes were made to how program payouts are triggered. For some producers these changes will come into effect in 2013. “It’s all over

U.S. drought prompts record crop insurance payout

washington / reuters Crop insurers have paid a record $11.6 billion to U.S. growers in compensation for losses due largely to widespread drought in 2012. Some analysts expect indemnities to reach $20 billion this year, nearly double the old record set in 2011. That would mean steep losses as insurers collected just over $11 billion


Corn, soybean crop insurance might expand to new areas

The Manitoba government is exploring whether it can expand crop insurance coverage for corn and soybeans to more parts of the province, Agriculture Minister Ron Kostyshyn told farmers at Ag Days Jan. 15. “I want to assure the audience today our department is in the process of investigating expanding potential areas for coverage, but we’re

U.S. crop insurance a post-election target

The federal government will likely shell out $15 billion or more for its share of crop losses caused by drought

Reuters – Federally subsidized crop insurance will be a big target for U.S. lawmakers looking to cut the budget deficit in the lame-duck session of Congress that opened recently after a status quo general election. But lawmakers aren’t expected to break their deadlock over enacting a five-year, $500-billion Farm Bill covering a wide range of