Heavy Rain From Late Season Storms Slows Crop Damage Investigations

Farmers in western Canada reported scattered but damaging storms that dropped golf-ball sized hail in some cases along with heavy rain that is slowing investigations, according to the Canadian Crop Hail Association.

The storms occurred Sept. 20-25. New reports from damaging storms on Sept. 17 and 18 continue to come in.

CCHA member companies are investigating more than 700 claims of hail damage to all crops in in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba during the time period.

Murray Bantle, of Cooperative Hail Insurance Company, said the late fall storm system was wide and mainly tracked south of the Trans-Canada Highway. It damaged cereals, oilseeds, pulses, corn and other specialty crops, he said.

“This storm was extremely wet and brought lots of rain,” he said. “Producers should be patient as we work to investigate claims and leave adequate samples for adjusters.”

An appropriate check strip for crop damage is at least 20 by 30 feet in the four corners and in the middle of the field.

Tyson Ryhorchuk, of Rain and Hail Insurance Service, also said the rain is slowing investigations.

“We ask that all producers remain patient as the ground saturation from recent heavy rainfall has greatly delayed the speed in which our adjusters can investigate claims,” he said.

CCHA member companies are finishing adjustments for summer storm damage.

Bantle said August storm claims are now complete at Cooperative Hail. They are at the 5-year average for that month. The average payable claim in August was slightly below the 5-year average, indicating less damage to crops.

September, he said, is a different story.

A major storm on Sept. 17, and other storms, pushed the number of claims above the 5-year average. Damage is also more severe with the average payable claim now almost double the 5-year average for September, Bantle 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.