As ironic as it may seem – we are talking about flooding and drought in the same year.

Dry conditions are becoming a major concern for a number of producers across Saskatchewan.  SCIC’s business risk management programs can provide support for farmers and ranchers who have challenges as a result of dry conditions.

The Crop Insurance Program offers producers flexibility to contend with changing conditions as the growing season progresses.  There are a number of options and choices producers can make about how they manage their coverage and compensation:

• If the crop does not emerge properly, by June 20, the producer can register an establishment benefit claim and compensation can be provided to cover the loss of seeding the crop.
• After June 20, Crop Insurance customers have full yield-loss coverage for their established crop.  If the crop suffers due to drought after June 20, the producer can file a pre-harvest claim, if they do not want to take the crop to harvest.
• Producers can take a drought affected crop to harvest and then file a post-harvest claim.  Compensation will be paid if the drought damaged crop does not meet the producer’s insured yield.
• Customers concerned about a feed shortage may choose to graze or harvest forage from any portion of their insured annual crop acres by contacting their local Crop Insurance office and requesting a pre-harvest yield appraisal prior to using it for grazing or forage purposes.
• Producers who selected coverage through the Forage Insurance Program can receive compensation if their hay does not meet the insured yield.  Protection against rising feed prices is also available by selecting the Variable or In-Season price options, which adjust insured forage prices to account for the value of the current year’s hay crop.
• Producers who selected coverage through the Forage Rainfall Insurance Program will receive compensation for their grazing acres if recorded rainfall is below 80 per cent of normal.
• Producers can seed annual crop for greenfeed until June 30 and receive insurance coverage for the greenfeed.

Producers concerned about the impact of the dry conditions on their crop should contact their local Crop Insurance office to review the options available for claims, compensation and the requirements for the options they choose.

The AgriStability Program is also available to offer assistance:

• Producers can access a portion of their benefit early using the interim benefit feature which can provide 50 per cent of the producer’s estimated final benefit.
• Producers can access the interim benefit form online at saskcropinsurance.com or if they have questions they should contact the AgriStability Call Centre at 1-866-270-8450.

The Ministry of Agriculture continues to monitor the ongoing situation and are exploring potential solutions, including:

• Ensuring that all vacant Crown grazing and hay land is made available for short term permit.
• Allowing subleasing of lands for grazing this year.
• Whether Environment and Fish and Wildlife Development Fund lands can be made available for grazing.

We would like to remind producers to explore the existing programs and potential options available to them.

• The Feed Grain and Forage Listing Service connects buyers and sellers of feed grains, forage and other agricultural related services through a free listing service. http://www.agriculture.gov.sk.ca/feedforagelisting
• Hay located in the right-of-way area along provincial highways can be available for salvage by farmers and ranchers without seeking prior permission starting on July 8.

Contacts:
Ag Knowledge Centre 1-866-457-2377
Crop Insurance 1-888-935-0000
AgriStability 1-866-270-8450

Sincerely,

Shawn Jaques
President and CEO
Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation

The Cupar and Southey First departments collected 4325 car ties, 406 semi tires, 330 tractor tires and 11 construction tires.  Thank you to all who helped with this fundraiser.

East-Central Saskatchewan (Crop District 5 – Melville, Yorkton, Cupar, Kamsack, Foam Lake, Preeceville and Kelvington areas; Crop District 6A – Lumsden, Craik, Watrous and Clavet areas)

Varying amounts of rain fell in the region helping to replenish dry soil conditions in many areas. However, more rain will be needed soon to help crops, hay and pasture develop. The Rose Valley area received 63 mm of rain, bringing the total received since April 1 to 112 mm. There are several reports of hail, strong winds and light frost damaging crops.

The recent rain slightly improved cropland topsoil moisture conditions in some areas, although hay land and pasture topsoil moisture conditions are deteriorating. Topsoil moisture conditions on cropland are rated as five per cent surplus, 55 per cent adequate, 35 per cent short and five per cent very short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as one per cent surplus, 43 per cent adequate, 47 per cent short and nine per cent very short.

Emerged crops are slow to develop and much of the re-seeded canola crops remain small. There are also varying stages of crop in many fields, making pesticide application timing difficult. Seventy-four per cent fall cereals, 67 per cent of spring cereals, 56 per cent of oilseeds and 71 per cent of pulse crops are at their normal developmental stages for this time of year. Most crops in the region are in fair to good condition, although rain and warm weather is needed. The majority of crop damage was caused by lack of moisture, flea beetles, hail and frost. Producers are spraying weeds as weather and crop development allows.

Farmers are busy controlling pests and hauling grain.

First home game so we can anticipate two things – office dress codes are not in effect (just wear green) and it will rain.  The past three years have had some wicked storms on the last day of Farm Progress, which was also the first game of the season.  So bring your green helmet to prevent hail damage, your green slicker to keep you dry, your green bunnyhug to keep you warm and cheer hard!

Beetle collection days are scheduled for Thursday July 2/2015 and Friday July 3/2015 at the Besant Campground, 25 km west of Moose Jaw on # 1 Highway.

Anyone is welcome to attend and collect Leafy Spurge Beetles as bio-controls for larger patches of leafy spurge in their areas.

If you cannot attend the collection days, but want beetles, there is a second option of hiring the two young men who will be travelling with me.  They will collect beetles for anyone willing to pay them, for their efforts, on a contract basis at a cost of $ 50.00 per lot of 2500 – 3000 beetles.   This collection takes place on very hot days 26 degrees plus and takes them about 1 hour to collect 1 lot of 3000 beetles.

My program does not have a budget to pay these young men, but I can pay the cost of packing and shipping the beetles to a chosen location for quick pick-up and release.   Arrangement can be made for me to meet someone, if it is on my route back to Saskatoon on the evening of July 3.

Invoices will be sent out after the beetle collections are made and the beetles are shipped, or delivered.

If there is enough interest collections could be arranged for July 6 – 10/2015 at the same location. Weather permitting, of course.

Please have people contact me for additional information and booking collections.

Please pass this information on to any ratepayers or organizations in your area that may be interested in obtaining Leafy Spurge Bio-Control Beetles.

You can pass on my contact information to all interested people.

Thank you.

Harvey Anderson

Invasive Plants Management Coordinator

3830 Thatcher Avenue

Saskatoon, Sask.

S7K 2H6

office: (306) 933-7695

cell: (306) 221-5289

email:  [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>

Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation – June 2015

Crop Insurance customers should note the following important dates:

• Establishment Benefit claims are to be submitted by June 20 as are claims for crops that fail to establish due to gopher damage.
• Full yield loss coverage for established spring and fall seeded crops begins on June 21.
• Seeded Acreage Reports and Stored Grain Declarations must be submitted by June 25.
• The deadline to submit Unseeded Acreage claims is also June 25.  Claims must be registered with your local Crop Insurance office.
• For honey producers enrolled in Crop Insurance, June 25 is the deadline to submit the Hive Reporting form and Stored Honey Report.  This is also the deadline to endorse overwintering insurance for the Bee Mortality Insurance Pilot Program.
• The deadline to seed greenfeed crops covered by forage insurance is June 30, with all establishment and gopher damage claims on greenfeed to be submitted by this date.

Could replace Construction Worker with Farmer.