As harvest advances across the Prairie Provinces, Canadian farmers are contending with strong storms that produced hail up to baseball size in the past two weeks, according to the Canadian Crop Hail Association (CCHA). Heavy wind and rain have flattened crops, left standing water in fields and slowed harvest progress.

“Mother nature has not been playing nice this harvest season,” said Brian Bernauer, Rain and Hail Insurance Services. “Prairie producers have not had the opportunity to sustain a big harvest push. Rain and tough conditions have been pausing the harvest frequently resulting in our harvest being behind the annual completion for this time.”

Damage has varied widely across the prairie areas affected by recent storms, with crop maturity contributing to significant differences in losses from field to field. Some pockets are experiencing total losses, while others have been minimally impacted. Ongoing wet conditions are complicating claims work and harvest, leaving crops exposed longer than normal.

“The early September storm activity is particularly concerning,” said Scott McQueen, Palliser Insurance Company, Ltd. “With a larger-than-normal percentage of crops still standing in all three provinces, storms impacting ripe crops are expected to generate significant losses. Mature cereals, pulses, and other harvest-ready crops have little ability to recover from hail damage, resulting in higher claim severity and larger indemnities than would typically be seen earlier in the growing season.”

CCHA member companies received more than 3,800 crop damage claims from storms that occurred August 30-September 12.

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

ALBERTA

Crops damaged: Barley, Canola, Corn, Duram, Fababean, Lentils, Mustard, Oats, Peas, Soybeans, Triticale, and, Wheat

Communities impacted include: Armena, Benalto, Bentley, Blackfalds, Blackie, Cayley, Cheadle, Chestermere, Dalemead, Delacour, Delburne, Eckville, Edberg, Elnora, Hilda, High River, Huxley, Indus, Irricana, Joffre, Kathryn, Keoma, Leslieville, Lousana, Lyalta, Medicine Hat, Mossleigh, Nanton, Nevis, New Norway, Ohaton, Parkland, Red Deer, Rumsey, Schuler, Sylvan Lake, Trochu, Vermilion, Viking, Vulcan, and, Withrow

MANITOBA

Crops damaged: Barley, Canola, Corn, Duram, Lentils, Oats, Soybeans, and, Wheat,

Communities impacted include: Benito, Boissevain, Clanwilliam, Deloraine, Elkhorn, La Riviere, Melita, St. Jean Baptiste, Swan River, Virden, and, Waskada

SASKATCHEWAN

Crops damaged: Barley, Canola, Corn, Duram, Lentils, Oats, Soybeans, and, Wheat

Communities impacted include: Abbey, Aberdeen, Alameda, Antelope, Asquith, Assiniboia, Beechy, Bethune, Big River, Biggar, Broadview, Brownlee, Burstall, Carmichael, Central Butte, Coleville, Cudworth, Cut Knife, D’arcy Station, Davidson, Delisle, Duperow, Earl Grey, Eatonia, Esterhazy, Estevan, Eston, Evesham, Fiske, Foam Lake, Gravelbourg, Gull Lake, Hague, Harris, Herbert, Humboldt, Itua, Kerrobert, Kindersley, Kinley, Langham, Leader, Leoville, Lumsden, Macklin, Mankato, Mantario, Martensville, McGee, Melfort, Melville, Mendham, Meskanaw, Midale, Moosanih, Mosse Jaw, Neudorf, Ogema, Perdue, Plenty, Primate, Regina, Redvers, Rock Glen, Rockglen, Rosetown, Rush Lake, Saskatoon, Shaunavon, Smiley, Sovereign, Springwater, Stoughton, Stranraer, Swift Current, Tessier, Wakaw, Watrous, Webb, Weyburn, Wilcox, Wilkie, Willow Branch, Winter, Yellow Creek, and, Zealandia

As harvest begins across the Prairie Provinces, farmers continue to report crop damage from scattered hail events, according to the Canadian Crop Hail Association (CCHA).

“Storm activity over the last two weeks has been minimal,” said Darryl Tiefenbach, Co-Operative Hail Insurance Company. “There has been minimal rain as well during this time and [that] is having a negative effect on head and pod filling in discussions I have had with producers over the last few weeks. Hopefully there will be some moisture relief in the near future.”

CCHA member companies investigated more than 1,300 crop damage claims from storms that occurred August 2-15, with most of those claims reported in Alberta.

“This year’s storm season is a bit unprecedented,” said George Kueber, Claims Adjusting Manager for Agriculture Financial Service Corporation in Lacombe Alberta. “We haven’t had claims volumes like this since 2016,” Kueber said.

Peas, lentils, fall rye, winter wheat and some early seeded cereals are being harvested in the southern part of Saskatchewan.

“With harvest now underway and improved access to fields, adjusters are able to complete claims more efficiently each day,” said Scott McQueen, Palliser Insurance Company, Ltd. “This is helping ensure farmers receive timely claim settlements and can continue harvesting with minimal interruption.”

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

ALBERTA

Crops damaged: alfalfa, barley, beans, cabbage, canola, carrots, chickpeas, corn, faba bean, flax, hemp, lentils, market garden, mustard, oats, onions, peas, potatoes, rye, soybeans, squash, sugar beets, timothy, triticale and wheat

Communities impacted include: Acme, Balzac, Beiseker, Benalto, Blackie, Bluesky, Caroline, Cayley, Chancellor, Champion, Chin, Claresholm, Coaldale, Cremona, Crossfield, Deep Creek, Diamond City, Didsbury, Donalda, Ensign, Fairview, Granum, Green Court, Hemaruka, High River, Hussar, Irricana, Iron Springs, Joffre, Lacombe, Lomond, Madden, Morinville, Mossleigh, Nobleford, North-Calgary, Picture Butte, Raven, Readymade, Rockyford, Sangudo, Shaughnessy, Spruce View, Standard, Vegreville, Vulcan, Waskatenau, Westward Ho, Worsley, Wrentham.

 MANITOBA

Crops damaged: cereals, corn, canola, soybeans, peas and flax

Communities impacted include: Brandon, Dugrost, Souris

SASKATCHEWAN

Crops damaged: barley, canola, corn, lentils, peas and wheat

Communities impacted include: Alameda, Bienfait, Carlyle, Neilburg, Oxbow, Rockglen, Shell Lake

Hail, rain, and strong winds continue to damage crops across Western Canada, according to the Canadian Crop Hail Association (CCHA). The Association is asking that farmers remain patient as loss adjusters work through claims as quickly and efficiently as possible.

“Our adjusting team is working seven days a week to stay on top of the volume of claims and provide service as quickly as possible,” said Scott McQueen, Palliser Insurance Company Ltd. “In some areas, extremely wet field conditions continue to create challenges and may result in slight delays in completing inspections and finalizing claims.”

CCHA member companies are investigating more than 1,650 claims of crop damage from storms that occurred July 6-19.

According to Brian Bernauer, Rain and Hail Insurance Services, heavy losses are being reported in areas of Saskatchewan such as Nipawin and Codette so claims will likely continue to rise as crops are assessed.

“Heavy winds came with storms that went through northern Saskatchewan on July 11, blowing over grain bins and uprooting trees,” said Bernauer.

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

ALBERTA

Crops damaged: Alfalfa, Barley, Beans, Canola, Corn, Faba Beans, Flax, Lentils, Oats, Peas, Potatoes, Rye, Soybeans, Sugar Beets, Triticale, Wheat

Communities impacted include: Abee, Alsike, Andrew, Ardenode, Athabasca, Atmore, Bassano, Bear Canyon, Beaumont, Beiseker, Bentley, Big Coulee, Bluffton, Bon Accord, Botha, Bowden, Brant, Busby, Carbon, Champion, Clandonald, Colinton, Deburne, Del Bonita, Delburne, Delia, Dewberry, Didsbury, Edberg, Edgerton, Egremont, Elk Point, Falun, Ferintosh, Fleet, Gleichen, Goodridge, Grande Prairie, Grassy Lake, Gwynne, Hackett, Hairy Hill, Hill Spring, Hilliard, Hoadley, Irricana, Kavanagh, La Crete, Leduc, Leedale, Lethbridge, Linden, Lloydminster, Mallaig, Maskwacis, Menaik, Milo, Morinville, Mossleigh, Mundare, Nacmine, Nightingale, Paradise Valley, Peers, Peoria, Pine Lake, Plamondon, Radway, Red Deer, Rimbey, Rocky Mountain House, Rockyford, Rowley, Ryley, Sabine, Schuler, Spruce Grove, Stony Plain, Sunnyslope, Swallwell, Taber, Talbot, Tangent, Thorhild, Tofield, Tomahawk, Turin, Usona, Vauxhall, Vermilion, Warner, Waskatenau, Whitecourt, Wildwood, Wimborne, Woking

 MANITOBA

Crops damaged: Barley, Canola, Corn, Edible Beans, Fababeans, Field Peas, Flax, Grain Corn, Lentils, Oats, Peas, Potatoes, Silage Corn, Soybeans, Sunflowers, Wheat

Communities impacted include: Baldur, Boissevain, Carroll, Cromer, Deloraine, Killarney,  Kola, Minto, Nesbitt, Oak Lake, Reston, Sinclair, Souris, Virden, Wawanesa

SASKATCHEWAN

Crops damaged: Soybeans, Wheat, Canola, Barley, Corn, Peas, Lentils, Flax

Communities impacted include: Arran, Carrot River, Codette, Cudworth, Cupar, Eston, Ituna, Leross, Liebenthal, Nipawin, Rabbit Lake, Rosetown, Southey, Springside, Waldheim

Storms with damaging winds, excess rain, and hail ranging from pea to tennis ball size wreaked havoc on crops across the three Prairie Provinces the last two weeks, according to the Canadian Crop Hail Association.

CCHA member companies are investigating more than 780 claims of crop damage from storms that occurred June 7-21.

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

According to Darryl Tiefenbach with Co-operative Hail Insurance Company, the adequate moisture is helpful but could also be a cause for concern.

“This is good for crop growth and development but could also create a favorable environment for hail storm development,” he said.

The damage to crops varied across the provinces from minor to severe, depending on the size of the hail. Most of the crops damaged by the storms will recover over time.

ALBERTA

Crops damaged: alfalfa, barley, dry beans, camelina, canola, chickpeas, corn, faba beans, flax, hemp, lentils, oats, onions, peas, potatoes, rye, sugar beets, triticale, wheat

Communities impacted include: Acme, Bassano, Bieseker, Blackie, Bon Accord, Brant, Brooks, Calahoo, Cardston, Chancellor, Cheadle, Cluny, Cochrane, Crossfield, Didsbury, Egremont, Elkwater, Ensign, Guy, Hamlin, Hays, Heisler, Holden, Hussar, Lavoy, Legal, Lomond, Lougheed, Lyalta, Manning, Medicine Hat, Milo, Namaka, Pickardville, Purple Springs, Ranier, Rockyford, Rolling Hills, Scandia, Seven Person, St. Isadore, Standard, Strathmore, Taber, Tilley, Viking, Vulcan, Waskatenau, Wostok

 MANITOBA

Crops damaged: barley, canola, corn, edible beans, fall rye, field peas, grain corn, oats, rye, soybeans, sunflowers, wheat

Communities impacted include: Arborg, Beausejour, Birtle, Carman, Cartier, Decker, Dominion City, Elie, Elkhorn, Foxwarren, Gladstone, Kola, Medora, New Bothwell, Ninette, Notre Dame de Lourdes, Pilot Mound, Roblin, Rosser, Russell, Sanford, Sifton, Snowflake, Somerset, Stanley, Stonewall, Tourond

SASKATCHEWAN

Crops damaged: beans, canola, chickpeas, corn, lentils, peas, rye, wheat

Communities impacted include: Alida, Arcola, Assiniboia, Brownlee, Cadillac, Carlyle, Carnduff, Cypress County, Delmas, Estevan, Grand Coulee, Gull Lake, Meota, Moose Jaw, North Portal, Outlook, Oxbow, Richardson, Stoughton, Unity

According to the Canadian Crop Hail Association (CCHA), the 2025 crop year proved to be an average claims year for the industry, with overall claim numbers down slightly compared to last year.

“What began as a season marked by drought-like conditions and expectations of an early harvest took an unexpected turn,” said Tyson Ryhorchuk, President of CCHA. “Significant rainfall arrived just in time for many regions, regenerating crops and resulting in yields that exceeded initial forecasts.

Although the harvest timeline trailed the yearly average by roughly 10 percent, the improved yields were a welcome surprise for producers across the prairies.

There were, however, several severe storms across the prairie provinces this summer that led to significant cumulative losses, resulting in insurance payouts totaling millions of dollars.

“A mid-June storm rolled through the south portion of the province (Saskatchewan) where the area of Mankota saw crops reduced to stubble,” said Brian Bernauer, Rain and Hail Insurance Services.

An intense storm that hit the Prairie Provinces on July 3 brought large hailstones, strong winds, and heavy rain that resulted in substantial crop losses for CCHA members. Some farmers reported hail stones up to golf ball size.

Commodity prices continued to struggle nationwide, leading to a decrease in total insured acres and reduced indemnity levels per acre. Late season claims were particularly abundant, but CCHA member companies worked diligently to address these losses promptly, minimizing disruption to harvest operations for prairie farmers.

“Our customers filed more claims than last year,” said Bruce Lowe, AG Direct Hail Insurance. “But despite the increase in claims, our adjusting team continued to meet and exceed our internal targets to close claims quickly and issue loss awards to our customers.”

As the industry reflects on the volatility and resilience of the 2025 crop year, ongoing collaboration between farmers and adjusters remains essential.

“The commitment to timely claims processing and transparent communication continues to support prairie agriculture through unpredictable weather and market conditions,” said Ryhorchuk. “We encourage farmers to participate with the adjusters during the claims assessment to better understand the processes and procedures utilized in assessing the losses.”

The Canadian Crop Hail Association extends its sincere gratitude to farmers for their continued trust and partnership throughout the 2025 season. Reflecting on the challenges and successes of this year, CCHA members remain committed to supporting prairie producers and look forward with optimism to an even stronger year ahead in 2026.