Producers in Saskatchewan got some good news last month when the provincial government restored the PST exemption for premiums paid to agricultural insurance policies, including the Western Livestock Price Insurance Program.

Jodie Griffin, the Saskatchewan Co-ordinator for the program, says this move will definitely help producers cut their costs.

"Premiums are looking pretty decent, but it's still a cost for these producers, and you put that PST on top of it, and it definitely had a pinch and a feel for them," she said. "It's excellent news that our Premier delivered, is to have that no longer available."

Rebates on the PST paid on WLPIP premiums since August 1st of last year will be made available in the near future.

Griffin adds producer uptake for the program continues to be strong, adding their calf program has nearly matched the record participation from 2017 already this year.

Griffin, says so far they are seeing about same participation for their calf program as their record numbers from last year.

"That'll be great. I hope we break it," she said. "We did last year on the calf program. We estimated that we insurance about 22 percent of the calf crop. I hope we see that at least if not more, so yes participation has been good."

Griffin adds it’s also good news that the P-S-T will no longer be charged on W-L-PIP premiums, and rebates will be paid to producers for the tax paid since August 1st of 2017.