The Canada and Manitoba governments are investing $253,600 through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP) to develop a new usage-based insurance (UBI) product, in collaboration with Dairy Farmers of Manitoba (DFM), to respond to needs expressed by forage crop growers and other stakeholders in a 2020 review of forage insurance programs, federal Member of Parliament for Winnipeg South Terry Duguid and Manitoba Agriculture Minister Derek Johnson announced today.

“Forage producers have seen firsthand the impacts of ongoing climate-related challenges – most notably this past year. By using scientific tools to gather and assess local conditions, projects like this will create new solutions for drought-affected producers in Manitoba.”

- Terry Duguid, Member of Parliament for Winnipeg South

“The forage and livestock sectors in Manitoba have been vulnerable in times of substantial forage shortages, as was the case during last summer’s drought conditions, and traditional risk management and insurance methods used for other crops do not always work well for their specific needs. We are pleased to work with industry to develop this ground-breaking insurance product that will help forage growers better meet operational challenges, especially under extraordinary circumstances.”

- Derek Johnson, Manitoba Minister of Agriculture

“Dairy Farmers of Manitoba is pleased to work with the Canada and Manitoba governments and agriculture sector to support the development of this innovative UBI product that will benefit forage growers throughout the province. Using leading-edge artificial intelligence, the product will measure and predict forage crop yields automatically and in near-real time based on satellite remote sensing, weather and geophysical data.”

- David Wiens, chair, Dairy Farmers of Manitoba

• The project will be conducted over an 18-month period by AIRM Consulting, which will also develop a website with a geographic information system interface for farmers to purchase insurance, monitor their policies and support claims settlements.

• The Canadian Agricultural Partnership is a five-year, $3-billion commitment by Canada's federal, provincial and territorial governments that supports Canada's agri-food and agri-products sectors.

• This includes a $2 billion commitment that is cost-shared 60 per cent federally and 40 per cent provincially/territorially for programs that are designed and delivered by provinces and territories. 

Associated links

• Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada)
• Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Manitoba Agriculture)
• Manitoba Agriculture

Marianne Dandurand
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
marianne.dandurand@agr.gc.ca
343-541-9229

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Ross Romaniuk
Press Secretary
Minister of Agriculture and Resource Development
Government of Manitoba
Ross.Romaniuk@leg.gov.mb.ca