March 11, 2019
For forage producers across Ontario, now is the time to plan for the year ahead. Forage producers who wish to participate in the Production Insurance plan for forage rainfall should sign up or renew their coverage by May 1.
Producers face many factors beyond their control, such as the weather. Rainfall can have a major impact on the quality and quantity of forage. Production Insurance can help producers deal with the impacts of challenging weather.
How the plan works
The forage rainfall plan offers forage producers coverage for both excess and insufficient rainfall. Rainfall is used as an indicator of the quality and quantity of established forage. For accurate rainfall data, Agricorp uses a professional weather service to gather information from a network of 350 rainfall stations in Ontario.
In previous years, several enhancements were made to the forage plan. The most recent enhancement allows farmers to choose multiple rainfall stations. For farmers who grow forage in several different areas, this option is more reflective of actual rainfall.
Looking back
Last year, farmers across the province saw prolonged periods of both dry and wet weather. This resulted in forage producers receiving $3.4 million in insufficient rainfall payments and nearly $1 million in excess rainfall payments.
To learn more, visit the forage rainfall section of agricorp.com or contact Agricorp.
