Crop insurance deadline extended by two weeks in Sask.

Saskatchewan producers interested in crop insurance coverage for 2020 have been given an extension to decide if they want to participate in the program.

In a media release Monday, federal Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau and Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister David Marit announced the deadline for the program had been moved to April 13.

That means producers who want to apply for, reinstate, cancel or make changes to their crop insurance contracts are getting an extra two weeks.

“It is critical for our government to continue to support Saskatchewan agriculture,” Marit said in the release. “We understand the challenges producers faced over the last year including evolving situations like the COVID-19 pandemic that continue to add to these uncertainties.”

The provincial government noted that extending the deadline gives producers more time to prepare for the 2020 season and make choices about their operations.

For more details, producers can call 1-888-935-0000 or email customer.service@scic.ca. Existing customers also can go online (www.scic.ca/cropconnect).

Truckers get exemption over hours

In a separate release, the provincial government announced it was temporarily changing its hours of service regulations for commercial truck drivers in response to COVID-19.

The move applies to truckers moving goods and supplies in response to needs related to the virus including:

• Medical supplies and equipment related to testing, diagnosis and treatment;
• Supplies and equipment necessary for community safety and sanitation, such as masks, gloves, hand sanitizer, soap and disinfectants;
• Food, paper products and other groceries for emergency restocking of distribution centres or stores;
• Raw materials, such as paper, plastic or alcohol, required for the manufacture of medical supplies, sanitation items and safe distribution of groceries;
• Fuel;
• Equipment, supplies and people to establish and manage temporary housing, quarantine and isolation facilities;
• People designated by federal, provincial/territorial or local authorities for medical, isolation, or quarantine purposes; and,
• People needed to provide other medical or emergency services.

Companies still must track their drivers’ operation despite the change in regulations. Drivers also must monitor their own level of alertness while behind the wheel.

“At the conclusion of the emergency period and prior to returning to normal operations, the driver is required to take eight consecutive hours off duty before driving,” the government’s release read.

Truckers also are exempt from the 14-day isolation period after returning to Saskatchewan. They’re reminded to wash their hands, to maintain a distance of two metres from others, to self-monitor for symptoms of COVID-19, and, if they show any symptoms, to self-isolate.