Governments of Canada, Manitoba launch satellite-based forage insurance pilot

The governments of Canada and Manitoba are launching a new pilot project that uses satellite-based technology in the Forage Insurance program, announced the federal Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Heath MacDonald and Manitoba Agriculture Minister Ron Kostyshyn today.

This initiative is supposed to reduce reporting requirements and improve production estimates for Manitoba forage producers while also keeping program accuracy and integrity.

Throughout the 2026 crop year, the Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation (MASC) will use the technology alongside the traditional reporting structure to learn information, gather data, insight and feedback. The results help determine if this technology can be adopted permanently within the Forage Insurance program.

The pilot will be offered to about 50 Forage Insurance participants at no extra cost and works with organizations like Manitoba Beef Producers. MASC will be tasked to pick participants, ensuring a representative sample across the region and with different production systems.