Drone Technology to Assess Wildlife Damage to Crops

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 harvesting seasons, producers often experience drop loss or ruin due to wildlife damage. To help producers address this, the Government of Alberta is providing Agriculture Financial Services Corporation (AFSC) with $900,000 to hire drone services for aerial assessments of crops.

Deploying drones is a practical, cost-effective way to assess damage while increasing efficiency in processing claims. AFSC helps producers protect themselves against wildlife damage by compensating them through the Wildlife Damage Compensation Program. Using the imagery from the new drones, AFSC adjustors will be able to provide enhanced, timely coverage.

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.

For more information on the Wildlife Damage Compensation Program, visit the AFSC website.