Agriculture Minister Lyle Stewart highlighted the changes in the 2018 Crop Insurance Program last week.

Among the changes, Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation is adding six crops to its Contract Price Option – barley, commercial canola, oats, hard red spring wheat, durum wheat and CPS wheat.

Including barley provides producers with the opportunity to ensure at a price reflective of malt barley contracts.

Saskatchewan Barley Growers are pleased with the news surrounding the addition of a contract pricing option for barley through SCIC.

Keith Rueve is a Director on the Saskatchewan Barley Producers Board.

“We’ve been working several years with them to develop such a program because this program is closely aligned with our overall goal of ensuring the long-term profitability of barley for Saskatchewan producers," he said. "As well it is making it a competitive crop choice for our province."

He says typically half the barley acres grown in the province are malt.

Rueve said that establishing an effective insurance program has been a priority.

“My understanding is that farmers can ensure their malt barley acres as long as they have contracted and priced their barley by the end of May," he said. "Depending on the price that you contracted for most likely you will have a higher guarantee per acre which will come with a higher premium as well.”

Overall he thinks there will be a good uptake on the program adding it's going to be more appealing for producers.