News
Hail risk not over on the Prairies

Aug. 19, 2013 - Harvest activities are beginning in pulse, winter cereal and canola crops across the Prairies. There will be cases in which a crop needs to be harvested before hail insurance adjusters arrive. In these situations, producers must contact their respective insurance companies for information about the requirements for leaving appropriate check strips or swaths.

August continues to pose a significant hail risk, with much of the crop development across the Prairies behind average for this date. Historically, late August has seen some very costly storms as crops ripen and are more susceptible to hail damage. Hail policies remain in effect until October 15.

Alberta hail activity light during past two weeks
Following some severe storms in July and early August, hail storm activity slowed down in Alberta over the past two weeks. Adjusters are working to catch up to early claims, as well as some claims recently filed as the result of an August 5 storm in areas around Medicine Hat, Olds, Vauxhall and Three Hills. Claims from areas around Camrose, Medicine Hat and Shuler and Sedgwick came in after an August 12 storm. There has also been some hail damage reported north of Edmonton, near Fort Saskatchewan.

The Peace region saw its first major hail storm activity on August 13 in areas around Nampa and High Prairie.

Weather patterns level out in Saskatchewan
Following an August 5 storm that resulted in a large number of hail claims, primarily in the southeast and southwest, storm activity in Saskatchewan settled out a bit over the past two weeks. Only a small number of claims have been filed during this period, but these storms have been hard on some producers, who have been hit for a second and third time this season.

August 5: Weyburn to Creelman and Fillmore, Stoughton, Benson, Lampman, Frobisher, Alameda, Mossbank, Climax, Bracken, Val Marie, Ponteix, Vanguard, Frontier, Kincaid, Gravelbourg, Shaunavon, Admiral, Glenbain, Swift Current, Eston, Biggar, North Battleford, Foam Lake, Lanigan, Pleasantdale, Lake Lenore, Porcupine Plain, and Melfort.
August 8: Churchbridge

Hail storm activity continues light in Manitoba
Storms in early August caused mainly limited damage, with more severe consequences in the northern part of the province as the result of an August 5 storm. Damage ranged from 0 to 20 per cent at the start of the month in the Elm Creek, Roland and Altona areas, while reports from the August 5 storm range from 50 to 100 per cent in some areas. Overall, Manitoba claim numbers remain well below average for this time of year.

August 5: Swan River, Bowsman, Minitonas, Elm Creek, Roland, Altona, Roblin and Kenville

August 22, 2013  By Canadian Crop Hail Association