Scattered Storms Result in Varying Crop Damage Across Western Canada

Farmers in western Canada reported scattered storm activity with pea-size hail in some cases, according to the Canadian Crop Hail Association.

The storms occurred Sept. 1-6.

CCHA member companies are investigating more than 500 claims of hail damage in Manitoba and Saskatchewan during the time period.

Saskatchewan had the most activity with more than half of the claims reported in that province.

Farmers reported light to heavy damage from storms Sept. 1-4, according to Murray Bantle of Co-operative Hail Insurance Company. Damaged crops included cereals, oilseeds, pulses.

A Sept. 2 storm resulted in varying damage depending on the ripeness of the crops, according to Darryl Tiefenbach of Additional Municipal Hail.

Storms on Sept. 2 and 4 resulted in pea-sized hail, according to Scott McQueen of Palliser Insurance.

“The damage was light to medium damage with the latest storm dates,” 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 in Manitoba reported minor to moderate damage to cereals, soybeans, canola, and edible beans after a Sept. 5 storm, according to Brendan Blight of Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation.

“The bulk of the storm started at Crystal City and traveled east toward Snowflake and Darlingford,” he said. “There were a few claims even further East in Morden and Altona.”

Storms Sept. 4-6 also hit Manitoba damaging wheat, canola, soybeans, flax and other crops, according to CCHA member companies.

For more: cropinsuranceincanada.org.

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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.