Purpose
Strawberry Establishment Insurance provides commercial growers with replacement cost insurance for strawberry plants lost during establishment.
Eligibility
- Insurance is available to all producers who have an AgriInsurance policy. Landlords are not eligible.
- March 31 is the last day to apply for Strawberry Establishment Insurance, make changes (add or delete crops and change coverage levels), and to cancel AgriInsurance.
- A minimum of 4000 strawberry plants being established in a crop year is required.
- Only strawberry plants transplanted on or before June 20 of the crop year qualify for insurance.
- All strawberries planted in the current crop year must be enrolled in the program.
Coverage
- Coverage is for the cost of replacement plants only.
- Coverage ends June 20 of the following crop year.
- Coverage is for the establishment year only (when the strawberries are transplanted into the field and before they produce strawberries).
- June 30 is the last day to file Seeded Acreage Reports.
Cost
The premium cost is shared 40 per cent by the producer, 36 per cent by the Government of Canada, and 24 per cent by the Province of Manitoba.
Claims
- There is a 20 per cent deductible based on the total number of plants insured.
- If a loss occurs to more than 20 per cent of the establishing plants, MASC must be notified and an inspection completed before the affected plants can be destroyed.
- Lost plants must be removed or destroyed after inspection.
- June 20 (next year) is the last day to file a Strawberry Establishment claim without late fees.
Claims Example
A producer plants 10,000 plants for strawberry establishment. 5,000 plants fail to establish.
Deductible
=10,000 plants x 20 per cent
= 2000 plants
Payable Claim
=5000 plants (failed to establish) – 2000 plants (deductible)
= 3000 plants
Other Program Details
Plants must be irrigated in a manner satisfactory to MASC.
To reduce losses in the winter, plants must be covered by adequate straw or mulch in the year the strawberry plants are transplanted.
