Crops remain insurable to June 20 deadline despite slow seeding, APAS says

By Your Southwest Media Group

REGINA – Saskatchewan crops will remain insurable up to the final seeding deadline of June 20, the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan says, as a cold, wet spring leaves many farmers behind on planting.

APAS is working with the Ministry of Agriculture and the Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation to give producers clear, timely information on how seeding dates affect coverage. The association says producers across the province have asked how recommended seeding dates and the final deadline relate to crop insurance.

Seeding remains well behind normal. As of May 18, the province was 29 per cent seeded, compared with 72 per cent a year earlier and a 10-year average of 52 per cent. Progress is especially limited in the northeast and northwest, where recommended seeding dates are approaching.

SCIC has confirmed crops are insurable until the June 20 deadline. Losses unrelated to seeding date, such as drought, disease, wind and hail, remain covered. Seeding past the recommended dates in the SCIC Seeding Date Tool carries added risk, since producers may receive reduced claims if their losses are abnormal compared with others in the area.

Producers planning to seed beyond recommended dates should contact their local SCIC customer service office to discuss how timing affects their coverage.

"We welcome SCIC's assurances that area-wide delays will not unduly penalize farmers," APAS President Bill Prybylski said. "Producers need this kind of clear and timely information so they can make sound seeding and business decisions. This has been a challenging spring, and having a clear understanding of how recommended seeding dates affect risk and coverage is critical."

APAS is urging SCIC to broaden how it shares the information, including through social media and other accessible formats, to reach producers working in the field. The association says it will continue working with the Ministry of Agriculture and SCIC through the 2026 growing season.