The federal and provincial governments have initiated changes to the AgriInsurance Production Insurance program for tree fruit growers.
In 2017, the calculation of depreciation is changing for quality loss claims (i.e., hail damage).
“This will help improve the predictability of claims, better reflect the true value of losses and will more accurately align with the picking and abandonment decisions growers make when crops are severely damaged,” states a release.
“There is no cost increase to the new calculation and the change applies to all tree-fruit crops, except cherries.”
Wind will be added as a quality peril to the B.C. Production Insurance program.
There also will be changes for cherry growers, including additional coverage for new cherry plantings and the time between purchasing quality coverage and coverage coming into effect is being extended from two days to four days.
Tree fruit producers will receive their production insurance renewal packages in the mail in October. The deadline for new applications and renewals is Nov. 30, 2016. Tree-fruit crops eligible for purchase of production insurance coverage include apples, cherries, apricots, peaches, nectarines, pears, plums and prunes.
