Hail Damage Decreases Across Western Canada
Farmers reported a decrease in hail damage across western Canada with colder weather that has meant less storm activity, according to the Canadian Crop Hail Association.
The storms occurred Sept. 28-30 and Oct. 14 and 19.
CCHA member companies are investigating about 53 claims of crop damage in Manitoba and Saskatchewan during the time period.
Murray Bantle, of Cooperative Hail Insurance Company, says storms damaged soybean, wheat and canola in Manitoba.
More than 80 percent of claims for Manitoba are complete, he said.
In Saskatchewan, pea-size hail damaged canola, wheat, barley, flax, soybeans, Bantle said.
Excessive moisture and the natural breakdown of crops are among factors in adjusting, Bantle said.
Claims adjustments in Saskatchewan are nearly complete, he said.
“Damage from the September storm is well above the 5-year average,” Bantle said.
Storms in September were costly due to the amount of unharvested ripe crop still in the fields, Bantle said.
Darryl Tiefenbach of Additional Municipal Hail also reported hail damage in Saskatchewan with rain and snow among factors in adjusting.
“We are currently finishing adjusting claims from late September in the South Central and South East parts of Saskatchewan,” he said. “This has been challenging due to the high moisture levels in some areas as well as the unwelcome snowfalls.”
All claims are nearing completion for Rain and Hail Insurance, said Tyson Ryhorchuk.
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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.