January 20, 2015 – Brandon, Manitoba - Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Manitoba farmers will benefit from improvements to the AgriInsurance program, Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz and Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Development Minister Ron Kostyshyn announced today.
For 2015, AgriInsurance premium rates are down by an average of 11 per cent, as compared to 2014. With probable 10-year average yields increasing, participating producers will, on average, be paying lower premium for higher coverage this year.
Improvements to AgriInsurance include:
- offering higher coverage for pedigreed soybeans, which reflects the additional cost of producing pedigreed seed. Soybeans are expected to be the largest pedigreed seed crop in Manitoba this year;
- increasing the guaranteed grade for oil sunflowers to #1 Canada (from #2 Canada), which better reflects the average grade of Manitoba production; and
- changing the escalating deductible for coarse hay to a flat 20 per cent for the Harvest Flood Option, which was one of the new program features introduced for forage producers in 2014.
The ministers noted the following initiatives will continue in 2015:
- the new suite of forage insurance programs continue to provide producers with enhanced benefits and options at a reduced premium cost;
- the Western Livestock Price Insurance Program provides Manitoba cattle and hog producers with an opportunity to protect against market risks;
- the Pasture Days Insurance Pilot Program continues to be offered to 90 producers to test the concept of providing coverage for situations where cattle have to be removed from pasture earlier than normal due to weather conditions; and
- work continues on developing a hog mortality insurance program.
Jeff English
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Gerry Ritz
613-773-1059
Media Relations
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
613-773-7972
1-866-345-7972
Follow us on Twitter: @AAFC_Canada
Caedmon Malowany
Press Secretary
Office of Minister Ron Kostyshyn
204-945-1494
