During the afternoon session on Nov. 30 of the CFGA’s 14th Annual Conference, Ryder Lee with the Canadian Cattle Association (CCA) presented an update on the Industry-Government Forage Insurance Task Team, providing a comprehensive overview of the task team’s progress and ongoing efforts in the forage insurance sector

What is the Industry-Government Forage Insurance Task Team?

At its core, the Industry-Government Forage Insurance Task Team is a collaborative effort between industry and government bodies with the goal to enhance forage insurance programs. It brings together federal and provincial government agencies, acknowledging that crop insurance is managed at the provincial level while being co-funded by federal entities. This collaboration is crucial because it allows for a more unified approach to forage insurance while addressing the needs of cattle producers across various regions.

The need for improved forage insurance

Ryder then explained that the task team formed in response to the low uptake of forage insurance programs which programs like Agri Recovery struggle to address forage needs adequately, highlighting issues with their effectiveness and coverage. Ryder said there is a need for improved forage insurance programs that better meet the needs of producers. The goal of the task team is to ensure forage insurance becomes a viable and widely used tool, providing fair support to livestock producers and aligning with other agricultural sectors.

The Industry-Government Forage Insurance Task Team is tackling several critical areas to improve forage insurance, including program design, communication and marketing and technology integration. Because the needs and challenges related to forage insurance vary across provinces, the task team is working to share successes and challenges across regions, promoting a collaborative approach to address common issues and replicate effective solutions.

Recent developments

Recent discussions have centred on refining insurance programs and improving communications strategies. The task team is also looking into global practices, such as those in the European Union and the United States, to identify best practices and potential improvements for Canadian programs. The focus is on reducing basic risk and enhancing the overall effectiveness of insurance coverage.

Future directions

Looking ahead, the task team will continue to assess and refine forage insurance programs on a provincial basis. Efforts are underway to engage more producers and address the low uptake of existing programs. Additionally, ongoing research into business risk management and innovative insurance models will help shape the future of forage insurance in Canada.

2023 conference recordings 

To hear all of Ryder’s session, you can purchase access to it and all of the recordings from the 2023 conference proceedings. Note, if you attended the 2023 conference, the recordings are available for free to those who registered for the conference. For more information, email [email protected]. 

2024 annual conference   

The CFGA is heading to Guelph, Ontario Dec. 3 to 6 for its 15th annual conference. The CFGA is excited to partner with the Ontario Forage Council on this not-to-be-missed event that will celebrate the important environmental and economic role forages and grasslands play in Ontario, across the country and around the globe.  

This year’s theme is Roots to Success: The Foundation of Resilient Agriculture. During this not-to-be-missed four-day event, attendees will learn about exciting and cutting-edge happenings in the forage sector and gain valuable information and inspiration for anyone involved in the forage and grassland sectors across the country. Visit the conference website for more details.