Beekeepers in Ontario can now apply for a Production Insurance plan that covers overwinter losses. The new bee mortality plan provides protection against a number of insured perils including excessive cold, flood and ice damage.
To be eligible, beekeepers need to have 50 registered hives that overwinter in Ontario.
Online applications and more information about the plan are available on agricorp.com/bees. The last day to apply is October 8, 2015. Paper applications were also sent to eligible beekeepers this week.
The new bee mortality Production Insurance plan replaces the two-year Beekeepers Financial Assistance Program that was available in 2014-15. That program will no longer be offered.
There are a number of other risk management options available to beekeepers, including:
|
AgriStability | Protects the farm income as a whole instead of one commodity at a time. It's an affordable option: producers can get coverage for a low fee of $315 for every $100,000 of their reference margin.
How it works: Producers receive a payment if their farming income falls below 70 per cent of their farm's recent average income.
Application and renewal dates: April 30 |
|
AgriInvest | Helps producers recover from small income shortfalls, or to make investments to reduce their farm's risk.
How it works: Producers receive a matching government contribution based on their annual deposits into an AgriInvest account. Their deposit is a percentage of their allowable net sales.
Application and renewal dates: September 30 |
|
Production Insurance | Guarantees producers a level of production. More than 90 plans are available based on yield, dollar value or acreage loss.
How it works: Producers receive a payment when an insured peril causes their yield to fall below their guaranteed production.
Application and renewal dates: In the spring for most plans |
|
SDRM: Edible Horticulture | Is part of RMP and helps producers mitigate general risks associated with their farm business.
How it works: Producers receive a government contribution based on their annual deposit into an SDRM account. Their maximum deposit is a percentage of their allowable net sales.
Application and renewal dates: Starting in September |
