It’s summertime in Alberta, and with the season comes an increased potential for volatile storm activity. Depending on your insurance coverage with Agriculture Financial Services Corporation (AFSC), you may have protection against losses related to lightning strikes and accidental fires.
“Agriculture is filled with unpredictable events, including the weather,” said Ken Handford, senior product co-ordinator. “Alberta’s seemingly unpredictable summer weather means farmers face a risk of lightning strikes or accidental fire damaging their crops. However, many of AFSC’s insurance offerings include protection against losses related to lightning and accidental fire.”
Clients with hay, export timothy hay, or annual crop insurance and processing vegetable insurance are covered when insured crops suffer production losses due to fires caused by lightning. Total production must be below insured coverage, and losses are measured and paid at the end of the year on a post-harvest assessment.
Read Also
Rich life took him from sky to ground
World War II veteran Burns Wood shares some memories of his time on the Alberta Sugar Beet Growers board as the organization celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2025.
For annual crops with hail endorsement, clients have spot-loss coverage due to accidental fire and fire due to lightning. Annual crop or hay fields insured under straight hail insurance have the same spot-loss coverage as hail endorsement.
Coverage ends when the earliest of the following occurs:
- The crop is harvested or put to another use;
- The crop is abandoned because of no harvest value;
- Midnight Oct. 31.
Clients have 14 days to report fire damage to AFSC under hail endorsement or straight hail insurance.
Pasture losses
Spot-loss fire payments compensate clients for production losses in the current year as well as the following year, as it is recognized burned land usually takes at least two years to recover. Coverage ends Feb. 28 of the year following the growing season. Clients must notify AFSC within 14 days of the start of the fire on pasture acres.
