Ottawa — Despite Prime Minister Justin Trudeau saying more money will be provided if needed, the agriculture sector continues to criticize Ottawa’s $252 million in COVID-19-related financial aid offered to producers and processors. “If we have to add more, we will,” said Trudeau, after announcing new funding and programming. The federal government is offering an […] Read more

COVID-19 aid ‘falls short,’ farm groups warn
Aid package includes AgriRecovery for cattle, hog sectors

P.E.I. plans AgriStability top-up, AgriInsurance discount
Province also pledges potato storage funding
Prince Edward Island’s response to COVID-19 includes plans to pump up its farmers’ coverage level under the federal/provincial AgriStability income stabilization program. The P.E.I. government on Thursday announced a support package for farmers including $8.8 million over two years in additional business risk management (BRM) program funds. That includes paying the provincial portion of the […] Read more

Hay disaster benefit kicks in for Manitoba growers
Eligible Manitoba forage growers can expect to share in a $5 million hay disaster benefit (HDB) for the 2019 crop year. Manitoba Agricultural Services Corp. (MASC), the provincial crop insurance agency, announced Friday that the HDB has been activated and benefit payments to eligible forage producers on about 1,500 claims will begin “shortly.” The HDB, […] Read more

Outside panel named for farm risk management review
A panel of 11 “external” experts from across the country has been picked to offer guidance and feedback on a federal/provincial review of farm business risk management (BRM) programming. The panel’s appointment follows an agreement by federal, provincial and territorial agriculture ministers back in July to launch a review of BRM programs, assessing those programs’ […] Read more

Crop insurance rates down in 2016
Malt barley insurable for the first time and organic production is also eligible for coverage this year
Reading Time: < 1 minute Agriculture Financial Services Corporation has made six enhancements to the AgriInsurance programs, including a first of its kind malt barley insurance product. The corporation, provincial and federal governments, and producer groups worked together to make the enhancements based on producer feedback. The malt barley insurance will have a premium price compared to feed barley, but […] Read more

Manitoba to boost insurance coverage on pedigreed soybeans
Increased coverage for pedigreed soybeans is among the changes planned for Manitoba’s provincial crop insurance program for the 2015 growing season. Soybeans are expected to be the largest pedigreed seed crop in Manitoba this year, the province said in a release, and the increased coverage is expected to reflect the “additional cost” of producing the […] Read more
Ontario eyes expanding production insurance
Ontario’s government plans to give itself more latitude to expand its farm production insurance offerings. The province said Wednesday it’s proposing to amend its Crop Insurance Act and grant itself authority to expand production insurance beyond just crops. That authority already is available to every other provincial government in Canada, the province noted. “Giving more […] Read more