APAS Says It’s Not Fair To Blame Producers For A Provincial Deficit

Dec 01, 2021

The Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan is raising concern over the Province's claim that Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation payments caused the provincial deficit in 2021.

According to APAS Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation reported a $2.4 billion surplus for 2020 which was accumulated over previous years, as well as a sizable surplus in the reinsurance fund.

APAS Vice President Ian Boxall says it’s not fair to blame producers for a provincial deficit in a drought year when that surplus gets used up.

Boxall says over the last several years, claims have been lower than premiums, which is why a surplus was built up over time.

He notes if the Crop Insurance surplus had been invested in a dedicated fund, like the SGI Auto Fund, then that money would have been readily available for paying Crop Insurance claims.

Federal and provincial governments are also protected by reinsurance policies that insulate them from the risk of high claim years.

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Video: Dicamba Returns for Georgia Farmers: What the New EPA Ruling Means for Cotton Growers

After being unavailable in 2024 due to registration issues, dicamba products are returning for Georgia farmers this growing season — but under strict new conditions.

In this report from Tifton, Extension Weed Specialist Stanley Culpepper explains the updated EPA ruling, including new application limits, mandatory training requirements, and the need for a restricted use pesticide license. Among the key changes: a cap of two ½-pound applications per year and the required use of an approved volatility reduction agent with every application.

For Georgia cotton producers, the ruling is significant. According to Taylor Sills with the Georgia Cotton Commission, the vast majority of cotton planted in the state carries the dicamba-tolerant trait — meaning farmers had been paying for technology they couldn’t use.

While environmental groups have expressed concerns over spray drift, Georgia growers have reduced off-target pesticide movement by more than 91% over the past decade. Still, this two-year registration period will come with increased scrutiny, making stewardship and compliance more important than ever.