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Forage Rainfall Insurance Program

The Forage Rainfall Insurance Program is available on native and tame acres for hay or grazing, protecting pasture and hayland in the event that seasonal precipitation is below the long-term average. Fire insurance is also available.

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2024 Program Enhancement

Increases in both coverage levels and transportation allowances better reflect the productive capacity of the insured acres and recognizes the costs associated with replacing lost feed. Producers can select from three levels of coverage, offering flexible risk management and related premium cost options.

To Enrol

For each land location you wish to insure, you must select the following:

  • Weather Station
    Choose the weather station which best represents weather conditions for your land. (Consider the monthly normals).
    You are limited to selecting one weather station per insured parcel of land, within 100km of your land.

  • Weighting Option
    You must select the weighting option for each land location insured. This allows you to weight the April to July precipitation to best suit the growing season for your region.

  • Precipitation Cap
    Select a precipitation cap of either 125 or 150 per cent of normal for each land location you insure. Any precipitation above this selected cap in any month will not be included in the claim calculation. The capping option helps in months when a significant rainfall event happens, but does not eliminate you from receiving an indemnity when the rest of the year remains below normal. The 150 per cent cap will have lower premiums than the 125 per cent cap.

Premium

Premiums are cost-shared. Producers will pay 40 per cent while governments pay 60 per cent. Premium rates are calculated for participating weather stations based on weather station historical precipitation data, the weighting option and the precipitation cap that you select.

Coverage

Coverage levels follow three soil zones along township boundaries. Your soil zone where your land is located, not the weather station you select, determines your coverage per acre.

Monthly Precipitation Weighting Options

You must also select the weighting option for each land location insured. This allows you to weight the April to July precipitation to best suit the growing season of your specific forage variety and your management plans for grazing your pasture.

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Forage Rainfall Insurance Program Calculator

Enter the type of acres you wish to insure and your legal land description for your current coverage options.

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Forage Rainfall Insurance Program Prices

View this year's prices.

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Insurable Weather Stations Map

This map outlines details on insurable weather stations.

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Coverages Map

View this year's program coverages (by zone).

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Forage Rainfall Claim

A forage rainfall claim is triggered when the precipitation at your selected weather station is below 80 per cent of normal. For each percentage point below that 80 per cent, 2.5 per cent of liability will be paid.

  • The rainfall indemnity calculation is based on your selected monthly precipitation weighting and your selected precipitation cap.
  • Precipitation includes all rainfall and snowfall amounts.
  • Quality control measures include verification of all weather station data by a third party (independent of SCIC) using procedures approved by an accredited meteorologist.
  • Only verified data is used in claim calculations.
  • Precipitation determined for the selected weather station is the only means of determining a rainfall claim.
  • Claims are not tied to individual yields or the amount of precipitation on individual parcels of land.
  • Rainfall claims do not have to be filed; they are automatically calculated in August based strictly upon weather station data. Verified monthly precipitation amounts will be available on the SCIC website and at your local customer service office.

Forage Fire Insurance Claim

A fire claim requires an inspection to assess the damaged acres.

  • An eligible fire claim will trigger a payment equal to the full insured value per acre. A minimum of one acre must be damaged to be eligible for payment.
  • The combined value of a rainfall claim and fire claim cannot exceed the maximum insured value per acre.
    For example, if an acre is fire damaged, the maximum value will be paid. Lack of rainfall will not trigger an additional payment.