The governments of Canada and Saskatchewan are maintaining support for the 2026 Crop Insurance Program, positioning it as a central risk-management tool for producers facing climate and market uncertainty.
In 2025, more than 85% of seeded acres in Saskatchewan were insured through the Crop Insurance Program. Despite variable growing conditions across the province, many producers reported improved production compared to recent years, supported by on-farm management decisions. Officials said those results have helped renew the program’s financial strength, reinforcing its ability to respond to future claims.
Federal Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Heath MacDonald (pictured, left) and Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister David Marit (pictured, right) confirmed the funding, with the program administered by the Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation (SCIC).
“As governments, we are committed to providing responsive business risk management programs that meet the needs of our producers,” MacDonald said. “These programs continue to evolve to ensure coverage accurately reflects local conditions and give producers the tools they need to make on-going business decisions.”
“Every season brings both opportunity and uncertainty,” Marit added. “SCIC’s programs are built to support producers in managing risk and making confident, forward-looking decisions. Reliable coverage not only strengthens individual operations but also contributes to the long-term economic growth of Saskatchewan’s agriculture sector. Now is the time to review your options and select coverage that best supports your operation.”
Crop Insurance operates as a federal–provincial–producer cost-shared program designed to protect against production quantity and quality losses. Premiums and administration are supported under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, with costs shared between producers and the governments of Canada and Saskatchewan. For commercial insurers and reinsurers, this structure means a substantial portion of primary production risk remains within publicly backed schemes, with private markets more often participating through reinsurance, stand-alone hail and specialty products, or complementary farm and agribusiness coverages.
This year marks 65 years of SCIC delivering business risk management programs in the province. The corporation said it is continuing to modernize its offerings, including through the recent introduction of Satellite Forage Insurance, which uses satellite data to provide a more localized and responsive approach to forage risk.
SCIC officials said they work with producers and industry partners to keep programs relevant, while advancing customer service and using technology to improve accuracy and responsiveness. For insurance professionals, the move reflects a broader shift toward index- and data-driven solutions in agricultural risk, with satellite and remote-sensing tools being used to streamline loss assessment and reduce disputes.
“Saskatchewan’s farmers and ranchers understand the importance of managing risk when it comes to variable weather and markets,” said Bill Huber, president of the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities. “Crop Insurance is one of the tools available to help operations manage production risk and plan for the future. We appreciate the work that has gone into these programs so far, and we encourage all levels of government to continue working together so producers have reliable, effective options to help them navigate these challenging conditions and keep their businesses strong.”
“For 65 years, Crop Insurance has been the cornerstone of risk management for Saskatchewan farms, offering the stability needed to invest in future growing seasons,” said Bill Prybylski, president of the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan. He said initiatives such as Satellite Forage Insurance are “a meaningful step toward addressing the accuracy concerns of livestock producers,” and urged farmers and ranchers to review their coverage ahead of the sign-up deadline.
The deadline for Saskatchewan producers to apply, reinstate, cancel or make changes to their Crop Insurance contracts is March 31, 2026. Producers must select their insured crops and coverage levels by that date. If no action is taken, last year’s coverage will automatically continue for 2026.
In addition to Crop Insurance, SCIC delivers AgriStability, Livestock Price Insurance and the Wildlife Damage Compensation and Prevention programs.
Producers are encouraged to review their overall risk management approach annually to ensure that coverage through SCIC and any private insurance aligns with their operation’s size, mix of crops and livestock, and exposure to weather and market volatility.
