Storms that struck the Western Canada region last month led to multiple crop damage claims.
According to the Canadian Crop Hail Association (CCHA), there were about 300 claims of crop damage from the period of July 23 to 31. Storms during the period pelted half-inch sized hail across the Prairies.
“There has been hail almost every day but the claim numbers are dropping,” said CCHA president Rick Omelchenko in a statement, adding that the hail damage to crops ranged from minor to medium, and mostly affected farms in central and southern Saskatchewan.
NortheastNOW reported that a variety of pulses, oilseeds and cereals sustained damage in the areas of Battleford, Cutknife, Rockhaven, Unity, Wilkie, Pontiex, Eastend, Foam Lake and Wadena.
Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation similarly reported that storms last month damaged canola, wheat and soybeans near Plumas and Austin. And Agriculture Financial Services Corporation said the severe weather damaged crops in the Alberta communities of Dogpound, Crossfield, Airdrie, Irricana, Drumheller, Calgary, Gleichen, Consort, Provost and Rumsey.
Omelchenko said that it has been quite a busy hail season for farmers, and noted that insurance adjusters are currently working on the fields damaged by the July 25 storm.
“They’re working as fast as they can but I feel they are on track for this time of year,” he said.
The association president also advised farmers who have suffered hail damage but are also beginning to harvest, to leave behind a strip of crop for adjusters to assess the damage.
