Introduction
Not all land is well-suited for growing annual crops. Excessive moisture, drought, salinity, erosion, and other factors can all result in decreased production and wasted input costs.
As a pilot incentive, MASC is introducing Forage Advantage, which encourages producers to sustainably manage these acres by growing forage crops. The Forage Advantage pilot offers Manitoba farmers a 15 per cent discount on Forage Establishment Insurance premiums for growing perennial forage crops on designated land. Farmers are also eligible for discounts on Basic or Select Hay Insurance or Forage Seed Insurance once the forage crop goes into production the following year.
The Forage Advantage pilot aligns with broader Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP) initiatives, a five-year (2023-28) federal-provincial-territorial program making investments to strengthen the competitiveness, innovation, and resiliency of Canada’s agriculture and agri-food sectors.
As a participant, growing forage crops on land that’s less suited to annual crop production gives you premium discounts for establishment and production insurance, an opportunity to farm these acres profitably, and a proven method to sustainably transform the land’s potential.
Specific benefits include:
- A 15 per cent discount on Forage Establishment Insurance premiums
- Premium discounts on Select Hay, Basic Hay, or Forage Seed Insurance in the year following establishment
- Agronomic benefits that revitalize the land, including:
- Increased soil fertility and quality
- Improved water filtration and drainage
- Decreased disease and weed pressure in subsequent crops
- Increased carbon sequestering for greenhouse gas reduction
Eligibility
To qualify for Forage Advantage, producers must grow eligible forage crops on designated acres. These requirements include:
- Producers must hold an active MASC AgriInsurance policy with Forage Establishment Insurance coverage
- Eligible crops include alfalfa, alfalfa seed, birdsfoot trefoil, clover, sainfoin, tall fescue seed, pedigreed timothy seed, and perennial grasses (excluding perennial ryegrass)
- Designated acres are classified by MASC as having soil types H, I, and J
- Organic forage seed is not eligible for Forage Advantage
- Landlords are not eligible for Forage Advantage
Important Dates
As an insured producer with Forage Advantage acres, you should be aware of these deadlines:
- March 31 is the final day to apply for AgriInsurance with Forage Establishment Insurance coverage
- June 30 is the final day to report acres seeded with eligible forage seed on their Seeded Acreage Report
Example
The 15 per cent discount will be applied on your statement of insurance as automatic credit toward your Forage Establishment Insurance premiums.
An example:
A producer seeds 80 designated acres to alfalfa and insures them with Forage Establishment Insurance at the $130 coverage level, which carries a premium of $844.80.
Original premium = $844.80
Premium discount = $844.80 x 0.15 = $126.72
New premium with Forage Advantage incentive = $844.80 - $126.72 = $718.08
Other Resources
Ducks Unlimited Canada has programs that complement Forage Advantage, providing further support and incentives to growing forages in target areas.
Marginal Areas Program
The Marginal Areas Program increases your profits while farming fewer acres. Receive dollars to seed hard-to-access or poorly producing areas to perennial forages. Last year, the average payment was $5,500.
Forage Program
Get financial incentives to convert your cultivated land to hay or pasture. Ducks Unlimited Canada has helped hundreds of Manitoba farmers establish over 39,000 acres of forages since 2015. The Ducks Unlimited Forage Program is science-backed and field tested.
