Farmers Report Late Season Storm with Damaging Hail and Rain in Western Canada
Famers in western Canada reported a severe storm that dropped golf ball-size hail in some areas and up to 5 inches of rain on crops that were ready for harvest, according to the Canadian Crop Hail Association.
The storm was one of several that occurred Sept. 15-20.
CCHA members companies are investigating more than 980 claims of hail damage in Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan during the time period with claims still coming in.
The storm on Sept. 17 appears to have been the most destructive, CCHA member companies said.
“There is significant damage from this late season storm,” said Darryl Tiefenbach of Additional Municipal Hail. “There was heavy rain in some areas of this storm path with the highest reported rainfall accumulation of around 5 inches. It was a slow-moving storm. In the core of the storm path, crops are completely destroyed. The heavy rainfall in some of these areas will make adjusting challenging. We are all hoping for sunshine, warm temperatures and wind to help farmers harvest crops.”
Murray Bantle, of Cooperative Hail Insurance Company, agreed.
“The September 17 storm was very devastating,” he said. “There was lots of heavy damage to crops that were ready to harvest. The heavy rain that came with this storm could slow down adjusting due to field conditions.”
CCHA member companies also reported damage to nearly all crops in Manitoba and Alberta during the time period.
The late-season storm activity comes as farmers are completing harvest and insurance adjusters are working to investigate claims head of the combines.
Bantle said leaving a good sample for adjusters is critical right now.
“With the number of claims in Saskatchewan and Manitoba, farmers should contact their insurance companies to determine check strips for adjusters to use prior to harvest,” he said.
Generally, he said, an appropriate check strip is at least 20 by 30 feet in the four corners and in the middle of the field.
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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.