Spotty hail activity reported

Farmers reported spotty storm activity across Western Canada during the period from Aug. 2 to 14, with heavy damage and golf ball-sized hail in at least one area, according to the Canadian Crop Hail Association.

Association member companies are investigating about 280 claims made by farmers in Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan during the time period.

Storms on Aug. 6 in Alberta appear to be the most severe with pea-to-golf-ball sized stones and at least 90 damage claims in communities including Cochrane, Onefour, Iron Springs, Taber, Foremost and Lethbridge, according to CCHA members.

Storms on Aug. 14 also resulted in damage across the three provinces, hitting Alberta communities from Claresholm to south of Taber and a large area northwest of Medicine Hat. Farmers in the Souris and Hartney areas of Manitoba reported damage, as did farmers in parts of Saskatchewan.

Harvest is starting across the area and CCHA members are urging farmers to leave enough samples of hail-damaged crops in the field to provide for accurate assessments.

“Harvest has started and staying ahead of the combines will begin to be an issue,” said Brendan Blight of Manitoba Agricultural Services Corp.

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