Low yield appraisal change will see poor crops used for feed

Aaron

To address low crop yields this year from dry climate conditions, both the federal and provincial governments announced the launch of an initiative to help support livestock producers.

To enact this initiative, the Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation (SCIC) is implementing what it calls “extraordinary measures” to support Saskatchewan’s livestock producers who are in need.

The incentive allows crop producers to divert some product toward feed, bales, and silage.

“This change to the low yield threshold aims to help producers make critical decisions about how to move forward with their crop and feed requirements,” said the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food.

“Many producers have been in this unfortunate situation before, due to the risks associated with climate ricultural innovations that will increase resiliency going forward.”

The province has seen dry pockets from climate conditions this year, and grasshoppers have been problematic. Minister of Agriculture David Marit said the impact of these conditions has been felt strongly in the southwest of the province.

“We are committed to supporting our farmers and ranchers to lessen the impact of these challenging conditions, and I want to encourage crop producers to again

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Reduction Program, lessees may be eligible for a rent reduction in situations where the stocking rate drops below 20 percent of the carrying capacity on their leased grazing land. Through the program, eligible lessees could see their 2023 grazing rent drop by between 20 and 50 per cent.

Prior to any decision on how to handle your damaged crop, producers are asked to contact their local SCIC of-ducers make timely decisions and to ensure they receive or call 1-888-935-0000 for more information. The SCIC website is also available at scic.ca.

work with neighbouring livestock producers to make feed available,” Marit said.

For historical reference, a similar initiative was implemented in 2021, resulting in more than 345,000 acres of crop product being redirected to livestock feed.

In situations where crops are severely damaged, such as recent drought or hungry pest damage, any appraisal that falls below an established threshold level is considered a yield of zero for the crop insurance claim.

To address the feed storage this summer, the SCIC is doubling this low yield appraisal threshold value. This allows customers to salvage damaged cereal or pulse crops as feed and this will not impact future individual coverage.

Given these climate conditions, AgriStability partic-

To provide additional support, any additional expenses a producer incurs to obtain additional livestock feed will count as an eligible expense through the AgriStability Program. This expense category will apply to most

Further, with the 2023 Crown Grazing Lease Rental