Farmers Edge has signed a four-year agreement with global reinsurance company PartnerRe to bring precision farming technology together with ag insurance. Under the agreement announced this week, the two companies plan to work together to develop new insurance products for the agricultural market. While Canadian farmers have access to government-run, subsidized crop insurance programs, as […] Read more
Farmers Edge to use data to edge into insurance sector
Insurer SGI Canada sets up farm unit
The property and casualty arm of Saskatchewan’s Crown insurance agency has set up a new unit zoned strictly agricultural. SGI Canada — the Regina-based property and casualty insurance provider which operates in tandem with the Saskatchewan Auto Fund, the Crown auto insurer — on Wednesday launched a new Farm Business Unit with “a specialized team […] Read more
Satellite insurance forage survey
Reading Time: < 1 minute Alberta Beef Producers and the Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association are conducting a risk management and insurance survey for forage producers to provide information that may be used to design more effective insurance and risk management tools for forage producers. This includes hay, grass, alfalfa, native pasture, and improved pasture. The survey can be found at www.surveymonkey.com/r/foragesatellite […] Read more
Saskatchewan cuts farm fuel tax exemptions in budget
“Purple gas” is about to become a quaint old figure of speech for Saskatchewan farmers as the provincial tax exemption for bulk gasoline for farm use ends April 1. The provincial government on Wednesday rolled out a budget designed to dial back the province’s reliance on resource revenue in the face of slumping markets for […] Read more
CCGA cash advance applications out early
Among other changes to the program, applications are available earlier this year for spring cash advances through the Canadian Canola Growers Association (CCGA). The CCGA on Thursday announced it’s now accepting applications for the 2017-18 advance payments program (APP), which offers cash advances on 45 different crop and livestock commodities. The CCGA is the administrative […] Read more
Agristability application window closing
Deadline for applications is April 30
Reading Time: < 1 minute The deadline for enrolling in AgriStability is just days away. “AgriStability provides ‘whole-farm’ coverage for all commodities and perils that are not necessarily covered through other forms of insurance. Coverage is specific to your farm operation,” said Norm Gueutal, AFSC team co-ordinator, adding the program is a low-cost way to manage risk. “Fees are based on […] 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
Cattle price insurance premiums up from last year
Increased volatility in the CME cattle futures market makes it more expensive to protect prices
Reading Time: 2 minutes Cattle price insurance for the 2016 calf crop is now available from Agriculture Financial Services Corporation (AFSC) until May 31, 2016 at a little higher cost than the same time last year. Bruce Viney, risk management specialist at Alberta Agriculture and Forestry, says the higher premiums directly reflect a higher level of risk and volatility. […] Read more
Advance payment program widened, streamlined
More types of livestock will be eligible and more types of security will be allowed for Canadian farmers to get federally-backed advance payments starting this year. Amendments to the Agricultural Marketing Programs Act (AMPA), made last February as part of the former Conservative government’s omnibus Agricultural Growth Act, have made regulatory changes possible for the […] Read more
We need a better approach to dealing with wildlife
Beef 911: Farming has created a great environment for wildlife but farmers are paying a steep price for the damage it causes
Reading Time: 4 minutes There have been many articles on the escalating conflict between wildlife and agriculture (both livestock and grain production) in certain areas of Canada. Our governments are struggling as to what to do and the most recent survey on wildlife damage by Alberta Beef Producers and the Miistakis Institute shows a high percentage of farmers impacted […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
