Production Insurance plans for fruit have been enhanced for 2014 to offer Ontario fruit growers improved coverage for their crops.
After a devastating 2012 crop year, Agricorp worked closely with the Ontario Apple Growers, the Ontario Tender Fruit Producers’ Marketing Board and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food to review Production Insurance plans for fruit. Here are some of the first improvements, available in 2014:
- Added protection for new apple and grape customers – Apple and grape growers may qualify for insurance coverage on their trees and vines in their first year of insurance. Previously growers needed to insure their apple and grape production for one full year before being eligible for apple tree and grape vine rider coverage which insures plants separate from production.
- Yield buffering for tender fruit –Yields more than 30 per cent above or below a customer’s average opening yield will be buffered to stabilize and lessen their impact on final average yield (FAY) calculations.
- Improved claim pricing for tender fruit – Claim prices will be calculated for peaches/nectarines, pears, plums and sweet cherries using a three-year average crop price instead of the previous five-year average price. The three-year average price will be more responsive of market prices. For sour cherries, the claim price will be set at harvest to provide growers with the market price at harvest.
Fruit growers have until December 20, 2013 to enrol or change their existing Production Insurance coverage. For more information, call Agricorp at 1-888-247-4999 or visit the Production Insurance section of agricorp.com.
