Several areas across the province have experienced limited amounts of precipitation during this year’s growing season. These conditions may prompt some producers to put their crops to alternate uses rather than waiting for it to mature and mechanically harvesting it.

AFSC clients with production insurance can choose to use their insured crop for alternate use including pasturing, ploughing down, spraying out, silaging or harvesting the crop into an immeasurable state.

At least five days in advance of putting an insured crop to an alternate use, clients need to contact AFSC and arrange for a yield appraisal and the release of the insured acres. Putting an insured crop to an alternate use before the acres are released by AFSC may impact the adjusted production in determining potential claims and future coverage.

When contacting AFSC, clients will need to provide the number of acres intended to be put to an alternate use and an estimate of the yield. Depending on the estimate of yield, an inspector may complete a field inspection to determine the potential yield appraisal before acres are released.

Clients wanting to put an insured crop to an alternate use before the acres are released can leave standing inspection strips or exclosures with prior approval by AFSC. Annual crops may be left in the swath as well to allow AFSC to conduct a yield appraisal.

Clients should review the information on Inspection Strips to ensure they understand and follow their obligations in determining potential claims and future coverage under production insurance.

For more information, contact your AFSC Branch Office or call 1.877.899.2372.