Manitoba announces lower crop insurance premiums, forage incentive

A farmer in Manitoba harvesting their crops on Sept. 25, 2024. (Jamie Dowsett/CTV News Winnipeg)

Farmers in Manitoba will pay lower insurance premiums on most insurable crops this year, a move the federal and provincial governments say is intended to help make life more affordable.

In a joint news release Wednesday, both governments said the average AgriInsurance premium for annual crop producers will drop to $11.46 per acre this year compared to $13.01 last year.

The AgriInsurance program, administered in Manitoba by the Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation (MASC), provides coverage for more than 80 crops, including protection against weather-related quality losses.

David Van Deynze, MASC’s chief product officer, said the biggest driver behind the reduction in insurance premiums is due to the program’s success last year.

“Generally speaking, Manitoba farmers had good crops in 2025, and our claim numbers are down significantly,” Van Deynze said.

“As a Crown corporation, any time that we are able to add some money to our reserves, we return that to farmers in the form of a premium discount in subsequent years, because it is the farmers money, partially, as well as the two levels of government, federal and provincial money, that pays these premiums,” he said.

MASC is also piloting the Forage Advantage incentive, which will offer a 15 per cent discount on premiums for perennial forage crops.

Van Deynze said the move comes to “incentivize farmers to adopt sound, environmentally sustainable practices.”

“We’re trying to find out whether or not the AgriInsurance program is an appropriate way to administer incentives, and whether or not it would be an effective way to influence behaviours as they relate to climate change activities.”

He said forage crops come with numerous benefits, including improving water infiltration and requiring less fertilizer.

In Manitoba, over 90 per cent of annual crop acres and more than 7,300 farms are enrolled in the insurance program, according to the release.

Census data show the province had just over 14,500 farms in 2021, with an average farm size of 1,177 acres.

More information on changes to the AgriInsurance program can be found online.