AFSC reminds producers of Feb 28 deadline for hay and pasture insurance 0

As the February 28 deadline approaches for Fairview-area farmers to insure their pasture and hay land this year, above-average to normal snow cover across the Peace region and much of the province has livestock producers feeling hopeful about the potential growth theyll get on their hay and pasture once the snow melts this spring.

We had a relatively dry fall so all of the snow weve gotten so far this winter should definitely help kick-start growth on forage crops in the spring depending on how slow or fast it melts and how much of that moisture soaks in. There is very little frost in the ground so that should help in terms of snow melt moving into the ground this spring, says Calvin Yoder, a forage specialist with Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development (ARD) in the Peace region. He adds the thick blanket of snow should also help insulate perennial forage plants, reducing the risk of winterkill this year.

Dry Soil Conditions Beneath the Snow

In the M.D. of Fairview, provincial moisture maps show that soil moisture beneath the snow as of late January is generally moderately low to low. Snow cover is generally moderately high.

Perennial hay and pasture crops depend on plenty of moisture early in the spring for healthy growth, says Yoder. So in the end, it always comes down to spring moisture and rainfall in late May and early June. Thats what really makes or breaks our forage production across the region every year, he says.

Last year, dry conditions in early spring and late summer triggered more than $4.4 million in hay and pasture insurance in some areas across the province, including the M.D. of Fairview, says John Kresowaty, with Agriculture Financial Services Corporation (AFSC). AFSC is the Crown corporation that provides crop insurance to Alberta farmers on behalf of the provincial and federal governments.

When the rain finally came in late May and June, we ended up with strong growth on hay and pasture in most regions, says Kresowaty. He notes last years total payout is among the lowest in more than a decade due to favourable precipitation and good growing conditions in June and July. The highest payout years for hay and pasture insurance were during the droughts of 2009 when $56 million was paid in claims, and 2002 when $89 million was paid out.

Of course, nobody can predict what will happen this spring, says ARD provincial soil moisture specialist, Ralph Wright. It could be wet or the snow could melt quickly and things could turn hot and dry. If its a cold spring, the snow could linger, delaying hay and pasture growth. Theres still two months of winter left. Anythings possible. Its really a wait-and-see game because weather is so random, says Wright.

7.5 Million Acres Insured

Unpredictable weather is the biggest reason Alberta producers insure about 7.5 million acres of hay and pasture across the province every year through AFSC Perennial Insurance programs, says Kresowaty.

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AFSC reminds producers of Feb 28 deadline for hay and pasture insurance 0