Light hail damage across Canadian Prairies in June: CCHA
a storm is growin up over the fields of italy
CCHA – Western Canadian farmers reported light damage to young crops after storms in late June brought heavy rains and light hail to parts of the Prairies, according to the latest update from the Canadian Crop Hail Association.
CCHA member companies are investigating more than 1,280 claims of crop damage during the Jun 20-27 timeframe, according to the report.
“We continue to see light damage to young crops in all three provinces,” said CCHA President Scott McQueen of Palliser Insurance. “More advanced crops are showing light to moderate damage with the odd field having severe damage. Heavy rainfall in some areas has slowed our adjuster force down, but there should be no risk of falling behind at this point.”
Yves Dooper, of Agriculture Financial Services Corporation, said storms damaged barley, canary seed, canola, corn, flax, forage, lentil, mustard, oats, peas, fall rye, wheat, faba beans, forage and potatoes in central and west-central Alberta.
“Majority of damage was reported as light to medium, with a few heavy and severe cases reported,” he said.
Darryl Tiefenbach, of Additional Municipal Hail, said storms damaged all types if crops in several communities across Saskatchewan. He said hail was pea-to-baseball size. The damage was mostly light to possible moderate with heavy rain and wind in some areas also causing crop damage.
“For this week, the biggest storm event was the June 23 storm day,” he said. “This storm stretched from Alberta near Richmound with a path all the way across and through Langenburg and Churchbridge into Manitoba. The other days during this week were mainly isolated pop-up storms that did not travel long distances.”
Murray Bantle, of Co-operative Hail Insurance Company, said storms damaged cereal, oilseeds and pulses in south and central Manitoba. The storms produced hail of a variety of sized. Heavy rain was also a factor. He said Manitoba was slightly above the 5-year average for claims in June. The average cost per claim is around the 5-year average so far.
