March 11, 2011

NDP FAILED PRODUCERS ON CROP INSURANCE

Regina – The NDPs dismal Crop Insurance record speaks for itself.

The Saskatchewan Party Government has improved the Crop Insurance Program for producers. This
includes record budget and coverage levels in 2011, as well as increasing the Unseeded Acreage
Benefit from $50 to $70 per eligible acre. The Saskatchewan Party Government has introduced the
three largest budgets and coverage levels in the program’s history.

“Our government campaigned on commitments to improve the Crop Insurance Program after years of
neglect, and we have delivered on that promise consistently over the last four years,” Agriculture
Minister Bob Bjornerud said. “Dwain Lingenfelter and the NDP have a history of gutting Crop
Insurance, and it is completely hypocritical that they are now pretending to stand for farmers after 16
years of neglect.”

Bjornerud noted Crop Insurance coverage levels and premiums are based on grain price forecasts.

“Current coverage levels and premiums reflect increased grain prices, which is good news for farmers,”
Bjornerud said. “Only the backward-looking NDP would have an issue with strong grain prices.”

The NDP’s Crop Insurance record includes twice cutting Spot Loss Hail, increasing premiums after
years of drought disaster, and providing minimal support for flooded acres in 2005, 2006 and 2007.
In 2003, the NDP government increased Crop Insurance premiums by over 80 per cent, while
coverage increased by less than 10 per cent.

Under the Saskatchewan Party, coverage levels have nearly doubled since the last NDP Crop Insurance
Program and increased by 166 per cent since Dwain Lingenfelter was agriculture minister.

“Lingenfelter and the NDP continue to make false accusations and hypocritical demands, but the facts
are evident – they weren’t there when producers needed them the most, whether it was a farm
income crisis, drought, flood, frost, or any other disaster,” Bjornerud said. “The NDP were on the old
road where their solutions were to cut programs, lower Crop Insurance coverage, refuse to fully fund
programs, and then blame the federal government for all of their problems.”

“Our government will continue to work to support producers as we did with the $700 million paid out
to producers in Crop Insurance and Excess Moisture Program claims in 2010, and the record Crop
Insurance coverage we are providing this year,” Bjornerud said.

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For more information, please contact:

Steve Rennick or Lisa Mrazek
(306) 787-4300