Manitoba Extends Seeding Deadline

WINNIPEG - May 31/04 - SNS -- Wet weather has prompted the Manitoba government to extend the seeding deadline by five days for crops with deadlines prior to June 20.

In making the announcement, Manitoba's Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives Minister Rosann Wowchuk said, "Recent rainfall has made it challenging for farmers to meet the current crop insurance deadlines for certain crops.

"I encourage all producers to talk to either their local agriculture representative or crop insurance agent to discuss the new deadlines and their planting options at this time."

Crops with a seeding deadline of May 30 will now have the five additional days of full insurance coverage to the new deadline of June 4 with the usual extended period running until June 9. Coverage during this extended period will still be reduced by 20% to reflect the risk. The final date of June 20 will not be extended as insured land that cannot be seeded by that date is eligible for an Excess Moisture Insurance benefit of $50 per acre.

May 2004 has been one of the coldest on record. Cool temperatures, an abnormal mid-month snowstorm and continuing rain have delayed seeding across much of the province.

In 2003, over 85% of Manitoba's annual crops were covered under production insurance. Manitoba's Crop Insurance program is cost-shared by participating producers and the governments of Canada and Manitoba.

While seeding progress varies across the province, approximately 75% of the crop in Manitoba is in the ground. Last year at this time most of the crops were already seeded.