Farmers File Thousands of Hail Damage Reports Across Western Canada

Storms across western Canada produced hail as large as tennis balls resulting in severe crop damage in some cases, according to the Canadian Crop Hail Association.

The storms occurred almost every day July 6-18.

CCHA member companies are investigating 3,241 claims made by farmers in Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan during the time period.

The Saskatchewan communities of Eston, Kindersley, Craik, Craven, Balcarres, Indian Head, and Sintaluta had the largest number of reported damages with 1,200 claims, according to Darryl Tiefenbach of Additional Municipal Hail.

The storms occurred July 13-18. Some of the hail stones were larger than a golf ball, he said. All crops in the area were damaged.

Storms on July 6-8 and July 11-12 produced pea-to-golf ball sized hail in Saskatchewan resulting in light to heavy damage, according to Murry Bantle of Co-operative Hail Insurance Company. Farmers made 159 claims.

Storms in Kindersley, Easton, Abbey, Dinsmore, Outlook, Lumsden, Indian Head, Esterhazy, Kerrobert, Luselnad, Bigger, Radisson, Hepburn, Rostern, Cudworth, Humboldt, Kelvington. Lampman and Redvers on July 13-18 resulted in 304 claims to cereals, pulses and oilseeds, according to Bantle.

Co-operative Hail Insurance Company customers in Manitoba filed 26 claims after storms July 8 and 11 damaged oilseeds, pulses, cereals, Bantle said.

Manitoba farmers in Brandon, Rapid City, St Cloud and Morden filed 39 claims after hail damaged crops July 13-17, he said. The storms hit west-central Manitoba to southeast of Winnipeg.

“So far we have completed 76 percent of our June storm adjustments with below the 5-year average payouts,” Bantle said. “July 1-10 storms are 23 percent adjusted with average claims so far below the 5-year average. However, some of the outstanding early July storms have been deferred.”

Farmers in the Manitoba communities of Roseisle, Brunkild and Russell made 123 claims after toonie-sized hail damaged cereals, canola, soybeans, edible beans and corn, according to Brendan Blight of Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation. The storms occurred July 9 and 11.

Farmers in the Hamiota area made 377 claims after a July 15 storm produced pea to toonie-sized hail, Blight said. Canola, cereals, peas and soybeans were damaged.

“High humidity and moisture have led to storms popping up all over the province but the Russell to Hamiota area seems to be the hardest hit,” he said.

Jackie Sanden, of Agriculture Financial Services Corporation, said farmers in Alberta reported damage from storms July 13-18. The claims are being investigated.

Farmers in the Saskatchewan communities of Carrot River, Aylsham, Torquay, Avonlea and Val Marie; the Alberta communities of Barons, Nanton, Provost, Mannsville; and the Manitoba community of Russell reported 13 claims after storms on July 6-8.

Scott McQueen of Palliser Insurance Company said storms on July 14 and 15 produced hail up to the size of a tennis ball. He said Palliser is investigating about 1,000 claims in Saskatchewan and Alberta.

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The Canadian Crop Hail Association (CCHA) has been serving the crop insurance industry since 1915. It is a member-driven organization that represents the interests of the Canadian Crop Hail managing general agencies and insurance companies. Our companies service agriculture producers in the western prairies. These private and government organizations together provide a risk management tool to the Western Canadian prairie farmer. Members are Additional Municipal Hail Ltd. (Saskatchewan), Ag Direct Hail Insurance Ltd, Agriculture Financial Services Corporation (Alberta), Canadian Hail Agencies Inc., Co-operative Hail Insurance Company, Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation, Palliser Insurance Company Ltd. and Rain and Hail Insurance Service Ltd.