Governments of Canada and Manitoba launch satellite-based forage insurance pilot for 2026 crop year
News release
New pilot project uses satellite technology to streamline reporting and support Manitoba forage producers
February 12, 2026 – Brandon, Manitoba – Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
The governments of Canada and Manitoba are launching a new pilot project to use satellite-based technology in the Forage Insurance program, federal Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Heath MacDonald and Manitoba Agriculture Minister Ron Kostyshyn announced today. The initiative aims to reduce reporting requirements and improve production estimates for Manitoba’s forage producers while maintaining program accuracy and integrity.
During the 2026 crop year, Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation (MASC) will use satellite technology alongside its traditional reporting structure to gather insight and feedback from participants. The results will help determine whether this technology can be adopted permanently within the Forage Insurance program.
Participation in the pilot will be offered to approximately 50 Forage Insurance participants 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 for producers against natural perils such as drought, excess moisture, and other extreme weather events. Producers participating in the pilot will receive further information directly from MASC.
AgriInsurance is a federal-provincial-producer cost-shared program that helps producers manage production and quality losses. Support for the program is provided by the governments of Canada and Manitoba under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP).
Quotes
"This pilot project explores how modern technology can reduce reporting requirements while keeping programs accurate and reliable for producers. By working with Manitoba and industry partners, we’re helping ensure that risk management tools continue to meet the real needs of forage producers."
- The Honourable Heath MacDonald, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
"Producers work hard every day to keep their operations running, and they deserve programs that work just as hard for them. 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."
- Ron Kostyshyn, Manitoba Minister of Agriculture
"Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) has long advocated for more effective and efficient business risk management tools for the beef industry to use. Evaluating new technologies such as this that could help simplify the administrative burden in forage insurance offerings is a great step forward and we thank governments and MASC for advancing this important pilot project."
- Matthew Atkinson, President, Manitoba Beef Producers
Quick facts
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The AgriInsurance program is designed to provide predictable protection for producers against natural perils such as drought, excess moisture, or other extreme weather events.
Associated links
Contacts
For media:
Jennica Klassen
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
jennica.klassen@agr.gc.ca
Media Relations
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
613-773-7972
1-866-345-7972
aafc.mediarelations-relationsmedias.aac@agr.gc.ca
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