With moisture conditions ranging from north to south, many producers are wondering how to protect their investment and their farming operation.
Agriculture Financial Services Corporation (AFSC) is here to help. We have options for producers, including:
- lending options to manage cash flow;
- insurance options to help make the best use of crops,; and
- AgriStability to protect from income decline.
Lending
AFSC can help clients manage their cash flow with options that include interest-only payments, deferral of principal and interest payments, and restructuring of loan payments.
“Every client’s situation is different, and AFSC can help provide personalized solutions for our clients,” said Steve Janz, AFSC’s chief client officer. “We encourage clients facing challenging situations to contact their lending relationship manager to discuss the options available.”
Producers can also quickly access working capital to help cover additional through AFSC’s QWK loan process. This process allows quick processing of funds to all AFSC clients, even those who have not had a loan with AFSC. Non-lending clients can access up to $100,000 and lending clients can access up to $150,000 through the QWK loan process.
| Producers are encouraged to contact their Relationship Manager Lending to discuss their situation. If you are new to AFSC Lending, please call your branch office or contact the Client Care Centre at 1.877.899.2372. |
Insurance
While the crop insurance deadline has passed for the 2022 crop year, insured clients can take steps to make the best use of their crops and protect any potential claims.
“Clients can use their insured crops as best suits their situation,” said Tracy Jouan, Insurance, AgriStability and Livestock Price Insurance vice president. “If a client wishes to use an insured crop for an alternate purpose other than letting it mature and harvest, they need to contact AFSC first to have the acres released.
“If they put the insured acres to an alternate use before they are released by AFSC, it may negatively impact any potential claim.”
AFSC’s claims adjusting team is ready to assess and release insured acres intended for alternate use.
| Producers who are considering putting insured acres to alternate uses should call AFSC first. Please call your branch office or contact the Client Care Centre at 1.877.899.2372. |
Clients with Moisture Deficiency Insurance and Satellite Yield Insurance can expect these programs to assess claims and make program payments throughout the growing season as data is received.
AgriStability
AgriStability, a whole-farm risk management tool, helps producers protect their operation from large margin declines that may threaten the viability of their farm. Coverage is based on the unique history of each participating farm. Benefits are calculated by comparing each farm’s current year numbers to the past five years.
“Producers in many areas of Alberta experienced below average rainfall and low soil moisture this spring,” said Ed Ten Hove, AgriStability product coordinator. “Producers may want to consider giving AgriStability a second look to see how it can help protect their bottom line and, ultimately, their farm.”
| The deadline to enrol in AgriStability has been extended to June 30, 2022. This extension gives producers additional time to consider how AgriStability might fit in their risk management plans. |
Recent changes to AgriStability have made it more responsive and easier for producers to navigate. These include changes to how private insurance payments are treated and the removal of the reference margin limit.
“Since 2008, AgriStability has paid out $1.3 billion to Alberta producers,” said Ten Hove. “And we want to remind producers that this low-cost program can help them maximize the assistance they receive.
It only takes a few simple steps to enrol in AgriStability. To learn more, please see the New to AgriStability page, contact the Client Care Centre at 1.877.899.2372, or call your branch office.
The deadline to enrol for the 2022 program year is June 30.
Questions
If you have any questions or need more information, please use the live chat function on our website or AFSC Connect, call the Client Care Centre at 1.877.899.2372 or contact your AFSC branch office.
