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When weather disrupts harvest

November 4, 2019

When harvest is a challenge because of weather conditions, knowing how coverage works can help farmers make important decisions.  

Government business risk management programs are designed to compensate for things like adverse weather, increasing costs and fluctuating markets.

Agricorp understands it has been a stressful year and the harvest season is a busy one. That is why Agricorp is here to help. Customers who have questions about their coverage or about submitting a claim can call Agricorp, speak with an adjuster or visit agricorp.com.

Here is what customers need to know this harvest season.

Production Insurance

Production Insurance provides yield-based coverage that gives customers a guaranteed level of production. This guarantee is based on the customer's historical yields and the coverage option they select. Production Insurance also includes features such as the corn salvage benefit for sample grade corn and options for harvesting stressed or damaged corn.

Customers receive compensation if their yield falls below their guaranteed level of production. Payments are made after customers report their final yield.  

What customers should know for 2019

  • Agricorp has several yield reporting deadlines over the next couple of months. If customers have not completed their harvest by the reporting deadline, they still need to call Agricorp to provide an update on the status of their crop.
  • Unusually high or low yields are buffered to stabilize coverage, so one bad year will not have a significant impact on a customer’s average farm yield. To learn more, read the Yield buffering feature sheet.
  • Future premiums are discounted or surcharged based on a customer’s claim history and on how their claim rate compares to the claim rate for the whole plan. This means that in a year when many other plan participants are also in a claim position, even a large claim may have little to no effect on the customer’s discount or surcharge. Production Insurance is designed so one bad year will not have a significant impact on a customer’s premium. To learn more, read the Discounts and Surcharges feature sheet.

RMP: Grains and Oilseeds

RMP: Grains and Oilseeds customers have access to program payments to offset losses caused by low commodity prices and rising production costs. Program payments are made if the average market price for a customer’s crop falls below their support level. 

What customers should know for 2019

  • RMP customers may receive payments twice a year, once in November and again the following spring. These payments can help customers concerned with cash flow.
  • Farmers concerned with costs beyond 2019 can enroll in RMP in the spring of 2020 by calling Agricorp.

AgriStability

AgriStability provides whole farm coverage designed to cover large income declines caused by production loss, increased costs or market conditions.

What customers should know for 2019

  • Customers whose income has dropped by more than 30 per cent in 2019 can apply now for an interim payment. Interim payments are 50 per cent of a customer’s estimated final payment.
  • Farmers concerned about ongoing revenue drops and expenses can sign up for AgriStability coverage for the 2020 program year. For more information about AgriStability and how to enrol, read the AgriStability information sheet.

AgriInvest

AgriInvest is designed to cover small declines in net income. Customers can deposit up to 100 per cent of their allowable net sales into an AgriInvest account, and the government matches up to one per cent of the contribution.

There is no application for this program and customers can withdraw funds at any time through their financial institutions. Producers submit their tax forms to participate. AgriInvest is delivered by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

What customers should know for 2019

  • To increase their access to cash flow, customers should submit tax forms as soon as their fiscal year ends. Customers do not have to wait for the deadlines.

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