Storms hit crops with marble size hail in Western Canada

Storms produced marble size hail resulting in light to complete crop damage across Western Canada has harvest continues, according to the Canadian Crop Hail Association.

The storms occurred Aug. 22-Sept. 1.

CCHA member companies are investigating more than 1,000 claims of crop damage during the time period.

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

CCHA President Scott McQueen, of Palliser Insurance, said late season storms have impacted mature crops.

“Crops are now mature and ripe in most areas and harvest is within the 5-year average for this time of the year,” he said. “Ripe standing crops are not able to sustain the hail damage as well as crops hit in the swath and we are seeing this in our claimed acres. Storms have produced marble sized hail and damaged areas have reported light damage to complete loss of crop. Light to medium hail losses have been the trend this growing season as well as high winds and rain accompanying hailstorms.”

He said higher than normal temperatures are helping turn the crop ready for harvest.

“Harvest is underway for most producers,” he said. “As shared previously, we encourage farmers to use adequate samples test strips for adjusters if hailed fields need to be harvested. If you are unsure what to leave, please contact your crop hail insurance provider for help.”

Here’s a look at storm damage across the region.

Alberta

Crops damaged: Alfalfa, barley, canola, corn, flax, lentils, mustard, oats, peas, sugar beets, triticale, wheat.

 Communities impacted include: Cardston, Magrath, Milk River, Warner, Fort Macleod, Okotoks, Blackie, Gleichen, Bassano, Gem, Acadia Valley, Barrhead.

Saskatchewan

Crops damaged: Wheat, canola, barley, oats, lentils, peas.

Communities impacted include: Consul, Assiniboia, Briercrest, Central Butte, Coderre, Colonsay, Coronach, Humboldt, Kenaston, Moose Jaw, Regina, Saskatoon, Swift Current, Viceroy, Weyburn, Willow Bunch, Choiceland, D’Arcy, Desisle, Dundurn, Eatonia, Fiske, Holdfast, Langham, Lloydminster, Norquay, Plenty, Saskatoon, St. Denis, Stranraer, Wakaw, Weyburn, Arcola, Beechy, Watrous, Ogema, Ceylon, Herschel, Blaine Lake, Buchanan, Stornoway, Alida, Beechy.

Manitoba

Crops damaged: Soybean, canola, wheat, oats, peas, cereals, corn, greenfeed, pintos, soybeans, flax.

Communities impacted include: Foxwarren, Boissevain, Brandon, Deloraine, Goodlands, Harney, Mariapolis, Medora, Melita, Minto, Nesbitt, Souris, St. Alphonse, Stanley, Wawanesa, Winkler, Birtle, Oakburn, Crystal City, Pilot Mound.