News
Prairie hail storms result in claim increases
Aug. 21, 2014 - The Canadian Hail Crop Association has stated there have been a large number of claims filed in August. According to their latest report, total numbers in both Alberta and Saskatchewan remain within the normal five-year average, but the severity of the storms and subsequent hail damage is very high in many areas. In Central Alberta and north-west Saskatchewan, many of the same farms have been hailed more than once. In Manitoba, storm and hail activity has continued to be very light.
It is imperative that appropriate check strips are left for damage assessment. Farmers should call their insurance provider or check company websites for information about the requirements for check strips before proceeding to harvest hailed crops.
Alberta
Severe storms swept Alberta in early August with most of the damage being reported from events on August 6, 7 and 8. The August 7 incident saw hail stones ranging from pea- to tennis ball-sized, driven by high winds and heavy rain, and resulting in several hundred claims with significant damage. Some producers within the impacted areas reported as many as four incidents of hail within a few hours as storm cells circled.
During this reporting period, a number of additional claims have been filed as a result of late July and early August storms, ranging from light to severe damage.
Major storm dates and locations for this reporting period included:
August 4: Trochu, Del Bonita, Huxley, Cluny.
August 6: Wetaskiwin to Sedgewick, Castor, Madden, Innisfail, Crossfield, Barrhead, Jarvie, Ferintosh and Trochu.
August 7: Counties of Lacombe, Clearwater, Red Deer, Mountainview, Kneehill, Rockyview and Wheatland.
August 8: Areas from Calgary to Gleichen, Blackie to Milo including Empress, Kathryn, Cardston, Medicine Hat, Cluny, High River, Mossleigh, Carbon, Bassano, Drumheller and Rosemary.
August 14: Lomond, Three Hills.
August 16: Vulcan, Consort.
Saskatchewan
Hundreds of claims have been filed in Saskatchewan over the past two weeks with the majority coming as a result of an August 8 event that tracked a wide area up the west side of the province and continued on to impact some smaller areas of the eastern part of the province.
To date, total claim numbers in Saskatchewan can still be considered within the five-year average. However, the intensity of the larger storms has been much higher than normal and hail damage has been significant, with above average payouts in some areas.
Major storm dates and locations for this reporting period included:
August 5: Near Consul, Leader, Burstall, Cabri, Elrose, Delisle, Richmound and Rosetown.
August 7: Ogema area, Regina, Kronau, Lajord, Edenwold, Fort Qu'Appelle, Balcarres, Abernethy, Edgeley, Lemberg, Duff and Melville.
August 8: Leader to Estonia, Kindersley to Eston and Elrose, Plato, Marengo, Major, Flaxcombe to Dodsland, Plenty, Denzil, Delmas, Herschel, Rosetown, Eastend, Shaunavon, Lafleche, Tompkins, Gull Lake, Swift Current, Vanguard, Neville, Aneroid, Hazenmore, Hodgeville, Glenbain, Gravelbourg, Shaunavon, Delmas, Kincaid, Madison, Assiniboia, Mossbank, Moose Jaw, Findlater, Regina and areas north, Richardson, Fort Qu'Appelle, Edgeley, Balcarres, Indian Head, Grayson and Churchbridge.
Manitoba
Claim activity continues to be well below the five-year average in Manitoba. Only a few storms were reported over the past two weeks, but included a severe August 17 event that brought high winds and heavy rain. The full extent of damage from the August 17 storm is still being determined.
Major storm dates and locations for this reporting period included:
August 8: Gilbert Plains, Shoal Lake, Oak Bluff, Dauphin.
August 17: Arden, Helston, Mayfield, Pine Creek, Gladstone, McCreary, Brookdale.
August 18: Grandview.
August 21, 2014 By Top Crop Manager
