Storms damage crops with pea size hail across western Canada

Storms produced pea size hail and caused heavy damage to standing ripe crops in some places, according to the Canadian Crop Hail Association.

The storms occurred Aug. 28-29, Sept. 2-5 and Sept. 7.

CCHA member companies are investigating more than 800 claims of crop damage during the time period.

Beth Shewkenek, of AG Direct Hail Insurance, said storms damaged crops in the Saskatchewan communities of Plenty, Rosetown and Battleford.

Tyson Ryhorchuk, of Rain and Hail Insurance Service, said storms damaged wheat and canola in the Saskatchewan and Alberta communities of Wilkie, Biggar and Mannville. They produced pea size hail.

Murray Bantle, of Co-operative Hail Insurance Company said storms damaged pulses, oilseeds and grains in the Manitoba communities of Neepawa, Oakburn, Solesgirth, Sandy Lake, St. Jean, Niverville and Winkler.

In Saskatchewan, he said storms damaged cereals, oilseeds and pulses in Glasnevin, Kipling, Prince Albert, Biggar, Central Butte, Dodsland, Elfros, Humbodlt, Kyle, Luseland, Milden, Mozart, Plenty, Wilkie, Young and Crystal Springs.

“Damage is heavy on standing ripe crop in places,” he said. “The August 27 storm is currently looking to be the most expensive storm of the year for our company.  Damage in the Outlook-Davidson and Yorkton regions was heavy in places on advanced crops.”

Cassandra Holt, of Canadian Hail Agencies, said storms damaged crops in the Saskatchewan communities of Lashburn, Wilkie, and Biggar. In Manitoba, storms damaged crops in Swan River, she said.

Jackie Sanden, of Agriculture Financial Services Corporation, said storms damaged crops in the Alberta communities of Vegreville, north of Bashaw and Dewent, west of Mallaig, south of Viking and south of Rivercourse.

Brendan Blight, of Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation, said storms damaged crops in the Manitoba communities of Beausejour and north of Portage la Prairie. The storms produced pea size hail and high wind resulting in minor to moderate damage.

“Harvest is progressing throughout the province and adjustors are working hard to stay in front of the combines,” he said.

Scott McQueen, of Palliser Insurance, said storms damaged crops in the Saskatchewan communities of Calder, Birch Hills, Prince Albert, Alida, Yorkton, Parkside, Plenty, Waseca, Kyle, Central Butte, Lacadena, Herschel, Luseland, Southy and St. Brieux.

In Manitoba, storms damaged crops in Holland, Springstein, St. Claude, Kenton, Thornhill, Domain, Lasalle and Sanford. In Alberta, storms damaged crops in Wainwright, Nanton, Brooks, Vermillion, he said.

Darryl Tiefenbach, of Additional Municipal Hail, said storms damaged crops in the Saskatchewan communities of North Battleford to Swift Current and then east through Davidson, Central Butte, Watrous, Wadena and Wynyard. He said the storms produced smaller stones with wind and rain and resulted in light to moderate damage.

“Mainly cereals and oil seeds were damaged since a large percentage of pulses have been harvested at this time,” he said.