Late Storms Cause Heavy Damage to Ripe Crops

Storms with excess rain and hail, some larger than golf ball-size, are causing severe damage to ripe crops as wet fields keep farmers from harvest, according to the Canadian Crop Hail Association (CCHA).

CCHA member companies investigated more than 1,978 crop damage claims from storms that occurred August 16-29.

“We haven’t seen this level of claims in 10 years,” said Yves Dooper, Agriculture Financial Services Corporation.

“For this period, we had hail on 13 days,” said Rodney Schoettler, Municipal Hail Insurance. “The biggest days being August 23, 28, 29 and 30, all in Saskatchewan. 265,000 acres were hit in a small area. These late storms should prove to be the most expensive event of the season.”

Companies contributing to this report are Agriculture Financial Services Corporation, Co-operative Hail Insurance Company, Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation, Municipal Hail Insurance, Palliser Insurance Company Ltd., and Rain and Hail Insurance Services.

ALBERTA

Crops damaged: all crops

Communities impacted include: Abee, Ardley, Barnwell, Barrhead, Beiseker, Bon Accord, Bowden, Brownfields, Cardston, Carstairs, Cayley, Chauvin, Clandonald, Condor, Coronation, Craigmillar, Cremona, Del Bonita, Derwent, Desjarlais, Drumheller, Eckville, Elnora, Foremost, Galahad, Gibbons, Girouxville, Hairy Hill, Haynes, Heath, Heinsburg, Huxley, Linden, Lloydminster, Lougheed, Madden, McLennan, Metiskow, Morinville, Munson, Nanton, Neutral Hills, Nevis, Newbrook, Olds, Parkland, Penhold, Purple Springs, Radway, Red Deer, Redwater, Rivercourse, Rockyford, Rowley, Rumsey, Sedgewick, Shandro, Silver Valley, Springbrook, St Albert, Standard, Stauffer, Sunnyslope, Taber, Talbot, Three Hills, Thorhild, Throne, Trochu, Tulliby Lake, Turin, Two Hills, Vermillion, Wainwright, Wanham, Watino, Whitelaw, Wildmere, Willingdon, Wimborne, Worseley

MANITOBA

Crops damaged: all crops

Communities impacted include: Benito, Dominion City, Dunrea, Melita, Morris, Ste Agathe, Virden, Waskada

SASKATCHEWAN

Crops damaged: all crops

Communities impacted include: Assiniboia, Avonlea, Balcaerss, Bengough, Broadview, Carrot River, Ceylon, Coronach, Creelman, Estevan, Fillmore, Francis, Glenavon, Grayson, Grenfell, Indian Head, Kelvington, Kerrobert, Kindersley, Kinistino, Kipling, Kronau, Lang, Midale, Milestone, Montmartre, Neudorf, Nipawin, Odessa, Ogema, Pangman, Prince Alabert, Radville, Rockglen, Sedley, Spiritwood, Stoughton, Vibank, Wadena, Weyburn, Windthorst, Yellow Grass