Manitoba Extends Crop Insurance

WINNIPEG - Jan 17/06 - SNS -- More crops will be eligible for coverage in 2006 under crop insurance offered by the Manitoba Agriculture Services Corporation (MASC).

Crops that have been added to the eligibility list for insurance coverage include proso millet and sweet corn. Insurance areas for soybean crops have been expanded slightly to reflect updated information on growing conditions. As well, the maximum coverage level for hemp, grain and open-pollinated corn has been increased to 80% from 70% of the expected yield.

To help address situations when land cannot be seeded due to wet conditions, excess moisture insurance has been enhanced by providing producers with the option of purchasing additional coverage of $25 per acre, bringing the total available coverage to $75 per acre.

New to MASC's insurance coverage is a Fall Frost Pilot Program that will test whether there is a demand for an insurance program that provides protection against an early fall frost.