The Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation Amendment Regulations, 2024 (Order in Council 145/2024) introduces significant changes to the Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Act, focusing on improving coverage options for farmers, particularly regarding intercrops and mixed forage.

Key amendments include the introduction of new definitions and terms. Section 2 now includes a definition for “intercrop,” described as multiple grain crops planted on the same land in the same year with the intent of harvesting and marketing them separately. Additionally, the term “mixed forage” is defined as crops intended for forage that are not insurable under specific existing programs, including the Forage Rainfall, Corn Heat Unit, and Corn Rainfall Insurance Programs.

Amendments to Section 3 expand the eligibility for insurance programs, incorporating “intercrop rainfall insurance program crop” and “mixed forage rainfall insurance program crop” as new insurable options. Furthermore, two new sections, 21.2 and 21.3, establish the Intercrop Rainfall Insurance Program and the Mixed Forage Rainfall Insurance Program. The Intercrop Rainfall Insurance Program (Section 21.2) allows applicants who qualify for crop insurance to elect participation based on acres seeded to intercrops within designated areas of Saskatchewan. Applicants must select weather stations that best represent the climatic conditions of their insured acres, declare the acres for insurance, and pay a premium determined by the corporation. This program employs a sliding scale for indemnity rates based on annual precipitation levels, triggering payments when precipitation falls below 80% of normal levels.

Indemnity calculations for both programs rely on data from selected weather stations, considering various factors such as the percentage of normal precipitation. Payments are computed through a formula based on the applicant’s coverage per acre and the total number of acres insured, with specific provisions to exclude excessive precipitation from these calculations.

The regulations also require applicants to select from three options for monthly precipitation weighting, which impacts how annual precipitation is assessed. These options dictate the distribution of weight across the months of May to August. Moreover, Section 18 has been modified to clarify that intercrops are exceptions to the diversification option crops that may be insured. Form A in the Appendix has been revised to include references to the new programs, ensuring that the necessary documentation reflects the updated regulations.

By introducing targeted insurance programs and clarifying existing regulations, these amendments aim to improve support for farmers facing climatic variability and provide them with more options for financial protection against potential crop failures.

Saskatchewan (13/2024) April 5, 2024