Prairies (Rural Roots Canada) – Golf-to baseball-sized hail has farmers across the Prairies still assessing the damage, according to the Canadian Crop Hail Association.

Strong storms that blew through Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba in the last two weeks resulted in more than 2,000 crop damage claims, with that number expected to rise as farmers continue to check their fields.

Despite the size of the hail, it’s flooding that presents the biggest challenge, according to Brian Bernauer with Rain and Hail Insurance Services.

“Adjusters are working with producers to set up appointments to ensure that they are able to access fields due to the muddy, wet conditions,” he said. “These conditions are proving to be a challenge to get to field locations with only back road access.”

Regional Breakdown of Storm Damage

Alberta

Crops damaged: Barley, Canola, Corn, Lentils, Mustard, Oats, Peas, Soybean, Wheat

Communities impacted: Barons, Claresholm, Hanna, Iron Spring, Lacombe, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Picture Butte, Provost, Troch, Torrington, Veteran, Vermillion, Wainwright

Saskatchewan 

Crops damaged: Barley, Canola, Chickpeas, Corn, Flax, Lentils, Mustard, Oats, Peas, Soybean, Wheat

Communities impacted: Abbey, Abernethy, Assiniboia, Bienfait, Big River, Brandon, Burstall, Canora, Cut Knife, Esam, Estevan, Foam Lake, Fox Valley, Glenavon, Gravelbourg, Hudson Bay, Humboldt, Kamsack, Kindersley, Leader, Lipton, Lloydminster, Lumsden, Mankota, Meadow Lake, Meath Park, Medicine Hat, Melville, Midale, Milk River, Montmartre, Moose Jaw, Mossbank, Neilburg, Neudorf, Nipawin, North Battleford, Oak Lake, Ogena, Outlook, Paradise Hills, Pelly, Ponteix, Preeceville, Prince Albert, Redvers, Reston, Saskatoon, Shoal Lake, St. Walburg, Val Marie, Vermillion, Wainwright, Wilcox, Wilkie, Willow Bunch, Yorkton

Manitoba

Crops damaged: Barley, Canola, Corn, Edible Beans, Fababeans, Flax, Lentils, Mustard, Oats, Peas, Rye, Soybean, Sunflowers, Wheat

Communities impacted: Boissevain, Brandon, Cromer, Dauphin, Deloraine, Fisher Branch, Hamiota, Kenton, Killarney, Medora, Melita, Newdale, Oakburn, Pierson, Pilot Mound, Rapid City, Reston, Rivers, Roblin, Rossburn, Shoal Lake, Sinclair, Souris, Strathclair, Virden, Wawanesa

Read more: Prairie Weather This Week – Midweek Update July 9