The highest crop insurance levels ever were announced by Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister Dave Marit.
Under the 2019 Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation plan, average coverage increases to $230 an acre from $216 in 2018.
While coverage increased 6.5 per cent premiums increased a mere 2.4 per cent to $8.61 an acre average.
Increased yields and some commodity price increases were cited for higher coverage.
The insurance pays out based on individual farm yields and can be tailored to farm needs with different levels of coverage.
Enhancements to coverage include 55 new weather stations for a total of 186 for tame and native grazing rainfall insurance. Marit said the new stations place 90 per cent of farms within 30 km of a weather station.
Crop insurance had complaints that stations were to far apart with many at 100 km distance. Consulting with producers gave rise to increased vales for grazing insurance coverage.
The new program extends coverage from corn heat units to rainfall coverage. If rain falls below 80 percent below long-term average producers of form for cattle feed can collect. Another change insures corn for $90 an acre if it fails to establish.
A southeastern grain corn insurance is also offered.
Last year was challenging for farmers. Excess moisture delayed seeding, a dry year wilted crops and early snow delated harvest.
As a consequence, the insurance plan paid out $300 million, a lot more than expected.
“The crop was better than anticipated,” Marit told a video news conference.
He encouraged farmers to make use of other risk management programs.
“Risk management has really become more important for Saskatchewan farmers.”
Marit cautioned there will be no ad hoc assistance programs if crops fail.
The province share of crop insurance premiums last year was $185 million, up from $173 million in 2017.
Producers pay 40 percent of premiums with the rest paid by senior governments.
Ron Walter can be reached at ronjoy@sasktel.net
