Crop Damage Compensation – Wildlife
Res #: 6-18M
Number: 6
Year: 2018
Midterm: Yes
Expired: No
Responses Received: Yes
Departments: Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture
WHEREAS the Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation currently provides a Wildlife Crop Damage Compensation Program for producers;
WHEREAS groups of feral horses are evident throughout the province and have been reported to cause extensive crop damage;
WHEREAS efforts in managing the feral horse population by application of the Stray Animal Act have been marginally effective;
BE IT RESOLVED that SARM lobby the Ministry of Agriculture to include feral horses as a non-domestic species under the Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation Wildlife Damage Compensation Program.
September 26, 2022
The Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation (SCIC) provides coverage for wildlife damage. As feral horses are not considered to be wild animals, even if they are born outside a domestic environment, they are not an eligible species within the wildlife damage program. SCIC does not currently have a program in place to offer producers compensation for damage caused by horses. RMs have legislative authority, through The Stray Animals Act, to deal with stray animals, including horses, within the RM’s respective boundaries. Section 25 of The Stray Animals Act, states specific provisions regarding valueless and dangerous strays. The RM is responsible for expenses incurred in dealing with strays in cases where ownership cannot be determined. Costs incurred can be offset through sales proceeds of the animal. The Ministry of Agriculture will continue to provide guidance for dealing with stray animals.
The Honourable David Marit – Minister of Agriculture, Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture