Growers with fields hit by excess moisture and hail are frustrated with coverage from MASC.

 

 

Some Manitoba farmers with fields affected by both hail and excess moisture feel they did not receive a fair payout from Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation this year.

Rob Brunel, president of Keystone Agricultural Producers, explains producers paid full premiums for hail insurance, but did not receive a payout on acres written off through excess moisture claims.

"If they had a 160 acre field and they had 5 percent flooded out, they still paid the full premium on their hail coverage, but only got paid out for the acres that were not flooded out," says Brunel. "So they paid premiums on land that they didn't receive a payment on."

"They paid for hail coverage on all their acres and when they received their form to file for flooded out acres, they were told those numbers would not be cross compliant. Yet, when they filed a hail claim, they were notified they were no longer covered on those flooded out acres," he says.

"Those that carry private hail insurance have the opportunity to receive at least a portion of their premium back, because you can cancel a portion of your coverage at any time and receive a pro-rated portion of your premium back. In this case there was no opportunity to do so."

"They paid for full coverage and never received full coverage," he says.

KAP members have passed a resolution "to lobby MASC to cover insured acres, whether or not there is a subsequent loss caused by flooding or other factors."

~ Thursday, October 21, 2010 ~