Published by Keystone Insurance Brokers | June 30, 2026 | keystoneins.ca

It’s been an eventful week for Manitoba producers, with severe summer storms, a provincial budget release, and a first-of-its-kind pest detection all making headlines. For farmers across the province, from large grain operations to small hobby farms, staying on top of these developments matters as much for risk management as it does for the bottom line. Here’s a rundown of five of the biggest farm stories out of Manitoba this week, and what each one means for your operation and your farm insurance planning.

Severe Storms Leave a Trail of Flood Damage Across the Province

A punishing run of summer storms battered Manitoba this week, with Stonewall recording an astonishing 255.1 millimetres of rain in 24 hours and nearby Petersfield seeing 229.5 mm. Areas north of Winnipeg, including the R.M. of Rosser, watched fields turn into temporary lakes, while a key highway near Teulon washed out entirely. Manitoba Hydro called it one of the worst summer storm events in recent memory, with roughly 25,000 customers losing power. Farther west, a tornado destroyed a century-old farmhouse, and a livestock producer near Swan River described floodwaters moving faster than anyone in 72 years of farming the land had ever seen. The province has since announced a disaster financial assistance program for affected communities.

Events like these are a stark reminder of why comprehensive farm property and crop insurance coverage matters in Manitoba. Keystone Insurance Brokers works with producers across the province to review overland flood, wind, and outbuilding coverage before storm season peaks, not after, and to help clients understand how provincial disaster assistance and private farm insurance fit together when a claim is needed.

Manitoba’s 2026 Budget Boosts Farm Risk Management Programs

On the policy side, Manitoba’s 2026 budget delivered welcome news for producers, allocating $143.7 million toward AgriInsurance, AgriStability, AgriInvest, and Wildlife Damage Compensation, including $71.8 million to cover crop losses from natural hazards and $7.8 million for wildlife damage compensation, which now extends to both crops and livestock. The budget also raises loan limits — Young Farmer Rebate loans can now reach $425,000, while direct loans climb to $6.25 million — and introduces a new Forage Advantage pilot offering a 15 percent discount on forage establishment insurance for eligible perennial acres. Farm leaders welcomed the gains, though some noted gaps remain.

These program changes are worth a closer look with your broker. Keystone Insurance Brokers can help you understand how updates to provincial AgriInsurance programs interact with your private farm insurance policy, so you’re not left with coverage gaps or paying for unnecessary overlap.

Golden Nematode Confirmed in Manitoba for the First Time

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency confirmed the first-ever detection of golden nematode, a regulated quarantine pest, on a Manitoba potato farm. The pest was found through routine soil testing tied to seed potato export certification, and while it poses no risk to human or animal health, an unmanaged infestation can cut potato yields by up to 80 percent and persist dormant in soil for decades. CFIA has restricted soil and potato movement from the affected field and is tracing other fields that may have been exposed. Manitoba potato exports to the U.S. remain on hold while the investigation continues.

For potato growers and any operation with export contracts on the line, this is a good moment to confirm that business interruption and contamination-related coverage are part of your farm insurance program. Keystone Insurance Brokers can walk specialty crop producers through what is and isn’t covered if a quarantine order disrupts a season.

Seeding Nears the Finish Line Despite a Soggy Spring

The latest provincial crop report puts spring seeding at 97 percent complete, slightly behind both the five-year average and last year’s pace. Saturated soils across the Northwest, Interlake, and Eastern regions made finishing seeding, reseeding, and timely spraying a challenge, and crop insurance deadlines passed even as some fields remained unseeded. On the bright side, roughly 70 percent of the spring wheat crop is rated good, pea crops have filled in well, and warmer days have helped corn and early canola along.

With deadlines now behind us, producers who weren’t able to seed every acre should talk to their broker promptly about unseeded acreage benefits and how they apply this year — a conversation Keystone Insurance Brokers is always ready to have.

Cattle Markets Cool as Flood-Hit Producers Take Stock

Manitoba’s cattle auctions have settled into their typical summer slowdown, with just over 3,600 head on offer across the province in the week ending June 16. Heartland Livestock Services of Virden topped the list with 1,045 head sold. The quieter market comes as some livestock producers, particularly in flood-affected areas near Swan River, are still assessing pasture damage and herd safety after cattle were caught in fast-rising water. For cow-calf and feedlot operators alike, it’s a timely reminder to review livestock mortality and pasture coverage limits before fall sales ramp up.

Protecting Your Farm Through Whatever the Season Brings

From storm damage to shifting provincial programs to a new pest on the watch list, this has been a week that underscores how quickly conditions can change for Manitoba farms of every size, from large grain operations to small hobby farms. Keystone Insurance Brokers has spent years helping producers across the province build farm insurance programs that keep pace with these risks. If any of this week’s news raises questions about your coverage, get in touch with our team or visit keystoneins.ca — we’re here to help you farm with confidence.