Sky high technology to assess crop damage
As part of Budget 2024, Alberta’s government is investing in drone technology for faster, easier assessment of wildlife damage to crops.
During the growing and harvest seasons, producers often experience crop loss or ruin due to wildlife damage. To help producers address this business risk, Alberta’s government is providing Agriculture Financial Services Corporation (AFSC) with $900,000 to hire drone services for aerial assessments of crops if Budget 2024 passes.
Deploying drones is a practical, cost-effective way to assess damage while increasing efficiency in processing claims for our producers.
“Alberta’s hardworking farmers and ranchers depend on AFSC programs for peace of mind each growing season. The high-definition imagery these drone assessments will provide will enable government and AFSC to gain a clearer picture of damage to Alberta’s crop fields and offer more responsive support for producers,” said RJ Sigurdson, Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation.
AFSC helps producers protect themselves against wildlife damage by compensating them through the Wildlife Damage Compensation Program. The imagery from these new drones will enhance the ability of AFSC adjusters to provide producers with suitable, timely coverage.
“Alberta’s government investment in our drone services is an exciting step towards improving our support for Alberta’s agriculture industry. Adjusters will continue to play an important role in assessing claims, but drones will enable us to view real-time field conditions faster,” Darryl Kay, chief executive officer, AFSC.
These funds are part of the government and AFSC’s continued commitment to work alongside producers and agri-businesses to support a strong, sustainable and diverse industry into the future.
Budget 2024 is a responsible plan to strengthen health care and education, build safe and supportive communities, manage the province’s resources wisely and promote job creation to continue to build Alberta’s competitive advantage.
Quick facts
• Agriculture Financial Services Corporation, or AFSC, offers client-focused financial and risk-management solutions to grow and sustain the agriculture industry in Alberta.
• AFSC administers a suite of business risk management (BRM) programs, funded through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP), that provide insurance and income stabilization for Alberta’s farmers and ranchers, including AgriInsurance, AgriStability, AgriRecovery and AgriInvest.
• The Wildlife Damage Compensation Program is a federalprovincial program that is administered by AFSC.