What is Wildlife Damage Compensation?
The Wildlife Damage Compensation program compensates agricultural producers for damage to eligible unharvested crops that is caused by ungulates, waterfowl, upland game birds and bears.
Ungulates
· deer;
· elk;
· antelope; and
· moose
Waterfowl
· ducks
· geese; and
· sandhill crane
Upland Game Birds
· grouse;
· partridge;
· turkey;
· pheasant; and
· ptarmigan
Bears
All commercially grown cereal, oilseed, special crops and hay that can be insured under AFSC Production Insurance are eligible for compensation under this program.
The federal and provincial governments pay all costs for this program. Producers pay no premium or administration costs.
The following crops are not eligible:
· grazing land or native pasture;
· crops in granaries, bins, bales or stacks (although the separate “Wildlife Damage Compensation on Stacked Hay” program will cover damage to stacked hay in certain circumstances);
· crops seeded on land considered unsuitable for production;
· crops seeded too late in the season to produce a normal yield;
· volunteer crops;
· crops that were cut or swathed for grazing; and
· crops left exposed to wildlife damage due to management practices.
How is compensation determined?
Compensation is based on the percentage of damage multiplied by the commercial value of the crop.
Commercial value is determined by estimating the yield and grade of the undamaged crop at the time of inspection. In the case of hay, there is no grade adjustment, so the commercial value is determined as the yield of the undamaged crop multiplied by the higher of:
· the highest price option offered under the current year’s production insurance contract for hay; or
· the price offered under the “Variable Price Benefit” for hay, which is determined in the fall.
Example:
· you have 70 percent wildlife damage on 10 acres of hay;
· the estimated undamaged yield is 2.0 tons per acre (tons/acre); and
· the high price for hay is $74 per ton.
Wildlife damage calculation: 2.0 tons/acre x 70% = 1.4 tons/acre
Total wildlife damage: 1.4 tons/acre x 10 acres = 14 tons
Total compensation: 14 tons x $74 = $1,036.00
Things to remember
· you are not required to have hay insurance to qualify for a wildlife damage claim;
· there must be at least 10 percent wildlife damage and a minimum of a $100 calculated loss per crop before compensation is awarded;
· hay must not be harvested. If you have to begin harvest, leave the damaged section unharvested. Wildlife claims cannot be adjusted from representative strips;
· for producers who carry AFSC hay insurance, the wildlife claim will be deducted from any Hay Insurance payments; and
· a non-refundable appraisal fee of $25 is required for each section of land (or portion thereof) on which damage has occurred.
So, how do I file a wildlife claim?
It is important that you contact your district office prior to harvesting the crop. We ask that a claim be filed 72 hours prior to harvest so we can arrange for an adjuster to perform an on-farm inspection to determine your claim calculation.
What is Wildlife Damage Compensation for Stacked Hay?
The Wildlife Damage Compensation for Stacked Hay program provides producers with compensation for losses on stacked hay due to damage by ungulates (white tailed deer, mule deer, elk, moose or antelope).
Eligibility Criteria:
· Hay must be stacked and stored at sites that can be regularly monitored by the producer.
· The producer must allow access to hunting.
· The producer must notify a provincial Fish and Wildlife(FW) Officer (Alberta Sustainable Resource Development) of the damage. The FW Officer will recommend appropriate damage prevention measures.
The federal and provincial governments pay all costs for this program. Producers pay no premium or administration costs.
How is compensation determined?
An AFSC adjuster will inspect all damaged hay to determine losses.
Compensation will be determined by multiplying the quantity of damaged hay by the higher of:
· the highest price option offered under the current year’s production insurance contract for hay; or
· the price offered under the “Variable Price Benefit” for hay, which is determined in the fall.
· Before a claim will be paid, a provincial FW Officer must visit the site. During this visit, the FW Officer will provide the producer with appropriate recommendations to prevent future damage. If the producer has a second claim, the minimum recommendations made by the FW Officer during the first claim must have been implemented to again be eligible for a full claim. If the recommendations have not been followed, the producer is only eligible to receive 50 percent of the claim amount. On third and subsequent years, if minimum recommendations are not followed, no claim will be paid.
Things to remember
· you are not required to have hay insurance to qualify for a wildlife damage claim on stacked hay;
· there must be a crop loss of $100 before compensation is awarded;
· the maximum compensation is $5,000 per inspection; and
· a non-refundable appraisal fee of $25 is required for each section of land (or portion thereof) on which damage has occurred.
So, how do I file a wildlife claim for damage on stacked hay?
It is important that you contact your district office as soon as possible after first noticing damage to request an inspection. You must also notify a FW Officer who will provide preventative recommendations. Claims filed over the winter (in most cases) will not be finalized until all damage has ceased.