Search
Better Farming OntarioBetter PorkBetter Farming Prairies

Better Farming Ontario Featured Articles

Better Farming Ontario magazine is published 11 times per year. After each edition is published, we share featured articles online.


Interest in forage insurance wanes

Thursday, July 11, 2013

by SUSAN MANN

A provincial survey has found a large proportion of forage growers in Ontario have experienced significant yield variances over the last decade.

But despite the variability, Agricorp numbers indicate that fewer farms are obtaining forage insurance.

More than 300 forage producers answered Agricorp’s online survey in April and May. The survey is part of a review of the forage rainfall plan by Agricorp and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food.

Of those respondents, more than 40 per cent said their yield varied more than 30 per cent over the last decade.

Yet the number of Ontario farms enrolling in the forage rainfall plan declined 18 per cent this year compared to 2012. This year, 1,174 farm businesses and a total of 294,554 acres were enrolled in the forge rainfall plan; last year 1,432 farm businesses and 344,428 acres were enrolled.

John Clement, Agricorp senior program and policy adviser, says participation in forage insurance is low across jurisdictions in Canada and that’s mainly because farmers have many self-insurance options, such as doing extra production, controlling inventory and substituting feedstuffs.

Agricorp and the ministry are working with an industry advisory committee and industry experts to review the existing plan and develop options for improvements. The advisory committee is made up of representatives from Dairy Farmers of Ontario, Ontario Federation of Agriculture, Ontario Cattlemen’s Association, Ontario Forage Council and the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association.

The plan uses rainfall as an indicator of forage quality and quantity and the survey also found that farmers rated rains during the growing season and at harvest as the biggest risks to forage production. (The plan currently offers farmers coverage for insufficient rain during May, June and July and excess rain during first cut.)

Clement says for the review they’ve consulted with a number of people and groups and “we move into a phase now where we’ve taken some broad general directions and we start accompanying it with some technical analysis and development.”

Agricorp, the provincial Crown corporation that administers agricultural risk management programs and the farm business registration process, will have recommendations by the end of the summer and they’ll start talking to people about them at that time.

Clement says they’ve met with the advisory committee four or five times now to talk about how the plan works. “We’ve used them as a sounding board” and they’ve talked to their members about the review’s progress. “They’re also providing critiques as we go along.”  BF

Current Issue

December 2024

Better Farming Magazine

Farms.com Breaking News

Snow Begone: The RapidTrak Series

Friday, December 20, 2024

BYLINE: Zahra Sadiq Winter is upon us, and with it comes thick layers of snow, making everything just a little more difficult. But it doesn’t have to be that way, thanks to the RapidTrak Snow Blowers by Ariens. This company’s story starts in 1933 when Henry Ariens took his sons... Read this article online

The 2024 Topigs Norsvin Canada Awards Banquet

Thursday, December 19, 2024

Topigs Norsvin Canada Inc.—headquartered in Oak Bluff, Manitoba—is a global leader in swine genetics, and recently held its in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and Stratford, Ontario, via two events for its producers. The banquets blended recognition for outstanding production achievements and... Read this article online

BF logo

It's farming. And it's better.

 

a Farms.com Company

Subscriptions

Subscriber inquiries, change of address, or USA and international orders, please email: subscriptions@betterfarming.com or call 888-248-4893 x 281.


Article Ideas & Media Releases

Have a story idea or media release? If you want coverage of an ag issue, trend, or company news, please email us.

Follow us on Social Media

 

Sign up to a Farms.com Newsletter

 

DisclaimerPrivacy Policy2024 ©AgMedia Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Back To Top