As you may already be aware, nearly 1.3 million acres remain of the 2016 crop to be harvested. Producers are anxious to finish harvest this spring and finalize their claims with SCIC. We understand the need to act quickly, assessing claims and putting money in producers hands before spring seeding begins. I want to ensure everyone involved with your organization we have proactive plans in place to assist customers. Our adjusting staff will be making appointments with customers, prior to them completing harvest, in an effort to finalized extensions in a timely manner.
If Crop Insurance customers have completed harvest, they need to call SCIC as soon as possible, unless an adjuster has already visited their farm. Please remember spring production must be kept separate from fall production for easy verification of the claim. The deadline to complete 2016 claims and finalize extensions is June 10.
If producers choose not to harvest their crop and put it to another use or destroy it, SCIC must be contacted prior to doing so. It is a producer’s choice to as they wish with their crop. If they choose not to harvest, SCIC will still place a value on the crop. Quality losses will be taken into account, in addition to yield loss.
If wildlife has damaged their unharvested crop, customers should contact SCIC prior to the spring harvest. Non-insured customers are eligible for compensation under the wildlife program and should contact their local Crop Insurance Office as soon as they detect damage on their crop.
On March 22, 2017, the Government of Saskatchewan unveiled its 2017-18 budget. As part of this budget, effective July 1, 2017, the Provincial Sales Tax (PST) of six per cent will apply to all insurance premiums including Crop Insurance and Western Livestock Price Insurance.
For producers who purchase Crop Insurance for 2017, the PST will be applied when they receive their Statement of Insurance in July. The PST will only be applied to the producer’s portion of the premium and not the government portion of the premium.
Producers who purchase policies through the Western Livestock Price Insurance Program will pay PST on any policy purchased on or after July 1, 2017. As a result, purchases of calf price insurance for 2017 will not include PST as those purchases will be made by the deadline of May 31, 2017.
My hope is you will share this letter with your members so they are aware of these latest developments. I want to make them aware of the recent changes to their insurance premiums and assure them SCIC is working hard to ensure claims on crop left out over winter are handled effectively and efficiently. Thank you for your cooperation.
Source : Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation