Reassurance during harvest

Nov 24, 2014

It’s been a difficult season for many farmers across the province. It started with the late spring planting followed by cooler and wetter-than-normal weather during the growing season. Now, difficult harvest conditions and volatile markets are leaving many farmers concerned about their yields, market prices and getting crops off the fields. Here’s what customers need to know about their coverage.

Unable to plant winter wheat

Farmers who are unable to plant some or all of their winter wheat acres need to call Agricorp immediately to keep their 2015 Production Insurance active. Keeping coverage active means they will continue to receive renewals, keep discounts on their account, and remain eligible for RMP. Agricorp is mailing more details to customers who have not yet reported.

Yield shortfalls

Production Insurance plans for grains and oilseeds guarantee a level of production, based on yield history and the level of coverage chosen. Claims are paid when an insured peril, like excessive rainfall and frost, causes final yield to fall below the guaranteed production. If customers notice crop damage, they need to contact Agricorp right away to open a damage report.

Reporting when harvest is delayed

Yield reports are due December 15. If wet conditions delay harvest beyond the yield reporting deadline, customers still need to call Agricorp to report damage or a partial yield so we can keep their coverage active until harvest is complete.

Claims are based on the chosen price option. 2014 claims will be paid using the following prices:

Crop	Floating claim price ($/bu)	Fixed claim price ($/bu)
Corn	$4.0993	$3.68
Soybean	$10.0928	$10.24

Market prices lower than support levels

RMP: Grains and Oilseeds helps offset losses caused by low commodity prices and rising production costs. Payments are made if a crop’s market price falls below the annual support level.

Cheques will be mailed in the coming weeks for the following crops and coverage levels:

Crop	Coverage level
Crop	80%	90%	100%
Canola	✔	✔	✔
Corn		✔	✔
Popping corn		✔	✔
Soybeans			✔
Spring grain	✔	✔	✔
Spring wheat			✔

Pre-harvest market prices are posted in the RMP: Grains and Oilseeds section of agricorp.com.

Source: AgriCorp

Video: How farmers are protecting the soil and our food security | DW Documentary

For a long time, soil was all but ignored. But for years, the valuable humus layer has been thinning. Farmers in Brandenburg are clearly feeling the effects of this on their sandy fields. Many are now taking steps to prepare their farms for the future.

Years of drought, record rainfall and failed harvests: we are becoming increasingly aware of how sensitively our environment reacts to extreme weather conditions. Farmers' livelihoods are at stake. So is the ability of consumers to afford food.

For a few years now, agriculture that focuses solely on maximum yields has been regarded with increasing skepticism. It is becoming more and more clear just how dependent we are on healthy soils.

Brandenburg is the federal state with the worst soil quality in Germany. The already thin, fertile humus layer has been shrinking for decades. Researchers and farmers who are keen to experiment are combating these developments and looking for solutions. Priority is being given to building up the humus layer, which consists of microorganisms and fungi, as well as springtails, small worms and centipedes.

For Lena and Philipp Adler, two young vegetable farmers, the tiny soil creatures are invaluable helpers. On their three-hectare organic farm, they rely on simple, mechanical weed control, fallow areas where the soil can recover, and diversity. Conventional farmer Mark Dümichen also does everything he can to protect soil life on his land. For years, he has not tilled the soil after the harvest and sows directly into the field. His yields have stabilized since he began to work this way.

Isabella Krause from Regionalwert AG Berlin-Brandenburg is convinced after the experiences of the last hot summers that new crops will thrive on Brandenburg's fields in the long term. She has founded a network of farmers who are promoting the cultivation of chickpeas with support from the scientific community.