Severe late August storms damage crops across Western Canada
Driving along high way 2 , south of Moose Jaw. Prairie storm approaching. Image taken from a tripod.
Canadian Crop Hail Association – A series of severe storms produced hail as large as golf balls, high wind and a tornado event that damaged crops across Western Canada, according to a report from the Canadian Crop Hail Association.
The storms ended months of dry weather and created challenging conditions for harvest. Insurance adjusters are working around the clock to complete claims ahead of the combines, with more than 1,400 damage claims from storms during the last week of August.
“August 23 through August 29 was a week of unsettled active weather heavily damaging many ripe crops across (Saskatchewan),” said Murray Bantle, of Co-operative Hail Insurance Company “With little to no rain over the previous two months this last week of August has quickly added some topsoil moisture. Producers were into the beginning of an early harvest on dry and droughted crops. However, this moisture quickly put a stop to further progress.”
Insurance agents reported damage to crops across all three Prairie provinces.
“We expect there will be some areas as heavily damaged as we have seen throughout the 2021 hail season so far,” said Darryl Tiefenbach, of Additional Municipal Hail.
Brendan Blight, of Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation, noted that storms damaged crops with pea size hail in western regions of the province. “Harvest is underway and we will have to work to stay in front of the combines,” he said.
“Standing canola was hit hard in both Saskatchewan and Alberta,” added Scott McQueen, of Palliser Insurance. “Poor crop condition in many areas is contributing to well above average hail payouts.”
With wet weather slowing the progress of claims adjusting, Tyson Ryhorchuk, of Rain and Hail Insurance Service asked for patience for claims adjusters, “as they are working around the clock to complete claims. If you need to harvest your fields, please be sure to leave adequate strips for adjusters as set forth by the company.”
For more information and past reports: cropinsuranceincanada.org
