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.

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.


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.

For more information, contact your nearest AFSC Office.   To find the office location closest to you, please click on this link.