Wild Rice Growers Discuss Crop Insurance

Wild Rice Growers Discuss Crop Insurance

Wednesday, March 21, 2007 at 16:47

 

 

A new crop insurance scheme dominated discussion today at the annual wild rice conference in La Ronge today.

 

Representatives of the Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Program were in attendance to explain the specifics to producers.

 

Wild rice growers have never had the opportunity to get insurance coverage for crop failure.

 

The new plan is being introduced in the wake of three straight poor harvests.

 

Saskatchewan Wild Rice Council chairman Bill Plunz notes the March 31st deadline to sign up is not too far away.

 

Delegates were told that 75 of 181 wild rice lease-holders have already signed on the dotted line.

 

Meanwhile, Lac La Ronge Indian Band Chief Tammy Cook-Searson told those in attendance that band-owned Northern Lights Food pushed the price they paid for wild rice well beyond what its competitors were offering, and it will continue to pay a premium for green rice this season.

 

Saskatchewan’s wild rice industry has just over 200 producers — mostly in the province’s North.