November 9, 2018
DON (deoxynivalenol) continues to cause worry and uncertainty for corn producers in the province. Agricorp is committed to providing up-to-date, accurate program information to help customers understand how Production Insurance coverage works in their individual situations. At the same time, Agricorp is working with industry to understand markets that are changing daily, before making difficult decisions that could have repercussions for multiple industries.
As of today, 1,300 customers have called Agricorp to report damage due to DON. These customers have been asked to collect and document
DON samples, tests and rejections to quantify the loss and to support any claims. And they now have important decisions to make.
Know your claim position first
Before making a decision about what to do with affected crop, producers need to understand their Production Insurance claim position. It is essential to note that higher yields can offset low-yielding fields affected by DON, and that this may not result in a payment. Adjusters are currently having these important conversations with affected customers to help them understand how Production Insurance coverage works. Producers can also read Agricorp's feature sheet
Understanding Coverage for DON for an example claim calculation.
How claims work after harvest
Whether producers store their crop while waiting for a market, find an alternative market, or focus on harvesting their marketable crop first, Production Insurance coverage is the same. Here's what producers who are enrolled in Production Insurance need to know:
- They are covered for losses that occur until harvest.
- Once the loss is quantified, Agricorp will keep their claim active until it is determined whether there is a market and the final yield is known – even if that determination comes after December 15.
- Any claim must be finalized by March due to the risk of further DON development in warmer temperatures.
- Damage that occurs as a result of storage practices is not covered.
Related stories
