Farmers Report Moderate Storm Activity Across Western Canada

Farmers in western Canada reported moderate storm activity with minor to heavy hail damage depending on the ripeness of the crops, according to the Canadian Crop Hail Association.

The storms occurred Sept. 1-13.

CCHA member companies are investigating more than 530 claims of hail damage in Saskatchewan and Manitoba during the time period.

Saskatchewan had the most activity with about two-thirds of the claims reported in that province.

Farmers reported varying damage depending on the ripeness of crops after a Sept. 2 storm, according to Darryl Tiefenbach of Additional Municipal Hail.

“Hail stones were smaller pea-sized,” he said. “Rain and wind are also factors in assessing crop damage.”

Storms Sept. 1-4 in Saskatchewan resulted in heavy damage in some cases to cereals, oilseeds, and pulses, according to Murray Bantle of Co-operative Hail Insurance Company.

Scott McQueen, of Palliser Insurance Company, said storms on Sept. 2 and Sept. 4 produced pea-sized hail.

“The damage was light to medium with the latest storms,” he said. “With harvest in full swing, we are maximizing all available adjusters so we can service our claims as quickly as possible to avoid producers having to leave samples.”

Farmers reported damage to wheat, canola, soybeans and flax after storms Sept. 4-6 in Saskatchewan and Manitoba, according to Tyson Ryhorchuk of Rain and Hail Insurance Service.

In Manitoba, a Sept. 5 storm produced hail that resulted in light to medium damage to cereals, soybeans, canola, and edible beans, according to Brendan Blight of Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation.

“We’re just working to try to stay ahead of the combines,” he said.

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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.