Saskatchewan farmers will see a combination of higher coverage levels and premiums in this year’s program.

Crop insurance coverage will reach a record $273 an acre, which represents a 22 percent increase in coverage over last year’s $224 per acre.

“That’s due mainly to commodity price increases,” said Jeff Morrow, acting president and chief executive officer with Sask Crop Insurance (SCIC). “Prices have increased by about 17 percent and our yields increased by about 3 percent.”

The average premium for producers in 2021 will be $8.59 an acre, up from $7.46 an acre last year.

“The premium is 16 percent higher than last year but the rates themselves actually decreased,” said Morrow. “I think when you put it into perspective, it is about a $50 an acre increase in coverage or about a dollar per acre for the producer in terms of premium.”

The establishment benefit values are being increased for four crops. These are the new values:

Canola                                          $70 an acre
Large Green lentils                $50 an acre
Red lentils                                  $30 an acre
Large Kabuli chickpeas        $65 an acre
Small Kabuli chickpeas        $45 an acre
Corn                                              $95 an acre

SCIC is updating the base grade for large seeded Kabuli chickpeas to reflect current production and marketing patterns,  increasing the insured price and the quality coverage.

“This change should increase coverage levels for most of the 300 chickpeas producers in the province,” said Shaun Dryland, board chair of Saskatchewan Pulse Growers.

Livestock producers growing tame hay will have additional options when insuring their hay acres. They will have the choice to insure under the Forage Rainfall Insurance Program (FRIP) or the Multi-Peril Crop Insurance Program. Under FRIP, payments will be calculated based on rainfall levels, instead of overall yields.

There will also be an increase in Native Forage Establishment Benefit coverage, which provides insurance on newly seeded native forage acres. The coverage is increasing from $75 to $200.

A pilot insurance program is being developed for vegetable growers. There will be stand-alone coverage for cabbage and pumpkins. A minimum of eight acres is required to participate in the program.

The deadline to enroll or make changes to crop insurance coverage is March 31.