Canadian Prairies (Rural Roots Canada) – July was a particularly devastating month for hail and storms, particularly in Saskatchewan, where one insurer said their company alone had claims on one million acres in a single week.
Canadian crop insurance companies say the July hail season was one of the most damaging in history, according to the Canadian Crop Hail Association (CCHA).
In Saskatchewan, the week of July 3-10 was particularly destructive. Rodney Schoettler of Municipal Hail Insurance called it unprecedented.
“We have not had a year with a million acres damaged in a week in my 39-year career,” said Schoettler.
The CCHA said its member companies investigated more than 4,000 claims of crop damage from storms that occurred in July alone.
The other concern being raised is a lack of rainfall in some areas, which the CCHA says will likely hinder some crops from reaching maximum production.
With harvest getting underway soon, the CCHA is encouraging producers who have suffered any losses to reach out to their insurance company in order to leave sufficient representation of the field for the adjuster to inspect.
Regional Breakdown of Storm Damage
Alberta
Crops Damaged: Barley, Canola, Corn, Fababean, Flax, Lentils, Oats, Peas, Potatoes, Rye, Soybeans, Triticale, Wheat
Communities impacted: Ardrossan, Barrhead, Bawlf, Beaumont, Belvedere, Bluffton, Bon Accord, Boyle, Breton, Bruce, Cherhill, Clandonald, Colinton, Dewberry, Evansburg, Fabyan, Falher, Fort Saskatchewan, Goodridge, Guy, Gwynne, Heath, High Level, Irma, Joffree, Josephburg, Leduc, Little Smokey, Mallaig, Manola, Mayerthorpe, Morinville, New Brigden, Ohaton, Oyen, Peers, Pickardville, Queenstown, Radway, Redwater, Reno, Rimbey, Rochfort Bridge, Sandy Beach, Sangudo, Sedalia, Sedgewick, St Paul, Sweathouse Creek, Thorsby, Tulliby Lake, Vermilion, Wainwright, Wandering River, Warburg, Waskatenau, Westlock, Wildwood
Saskatchewan
Crops damaged: Barley, Canola, Corn, Flax, Lentils, Oats, Peas, Soybeans, Wheat
Communities impacted: Brandon, Buhannan, Canora, Carievale, Carnduff, Coleville, Consul, Fertile, Kerrobert, Lloydminster, Major, Maple Creek, Melita, Rama, Souris, Wadena, Wainwright
Manitoba
Crops damaged: Barley, Canola, Corn, Lentils, Oats, Peas, Soybean, Soybeans, Wheat
Communities impacted: Fertile, Hartney, Pierson, Pipestone, Reinland, Reston, Roblin, Schoenwise, Souris, St. Pierre Joly, Tilston
