Saskatchewan farmers already feeling the effects of a spring drought were busy this week assessing the damage caused by a large storm that passed across much of southern Saskatchewan June 12, delivering hail, heavy winds and some moisture.
The most significant hail damage appears to have occurred in an area south of Moose Jaw, around Lafleche and Assiniboia, and extending eastward to Crane Valley, Ogema, Radville and Pangman.
However, damage was reported right across southern Saskatchewan, in an area spanning from Fox Valley, Sask., near the Alberta border to Carlyle and Storthoaks in the province’s far southeast.
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“If you were going to pick a centre point, it would probably be in that Assiniboia-Lafleche-Woodrow area, so south-central Saskatchewan,” said Sean Friesen, chief adjuster with Co-op Hail Insurance.
“But it did actually tail off into the southeast so it did hit Carlyle and Radville and Stoughton and Storthoaks as well. I would say the whole south got it.”
Assessing the damage from the storm could be difficult.
Some established crops suffered extensive damage, but others were delayed and already in a vulnerable state due to limited moisture, Friesen said.
In addition to hail, the storm delivered much needed moisture to some areas, although rainfall amounts were modest in most areas.
Friesen said some of the cereal crops that were hit by hail are likely to recover. Other crops are more vulnerable.
Adjusters will be assessing the damage over the coming weeks.
“With regards to the amount of loss? It’s hard to say,” Friesen said.
“Crops are all at different stages out there right now. We have people who are reseeding crops and we have people that are droughting out.”
Shannon Friesen, cropping management specialist with Saskatchewan Agriculture, said damage caused by the hailstorm varied throughout the south.
Some areas suffered extensive damage to crops and property. Others were untouched.
In general, rainfall amounts that accompanied the storm were modest in most areas south of the Trans-Canada Highway.
The area affected by the storm was “sweeping across the south part of the province,” but hail damage “seems to be very scattered and spotty,” Friesen said.
Crops in many regions were not looking the greatest before the storm with many fields well delayed due to lack of moisture, she added.
Contact brian.cross@producer.com
