Hailstorms wreaked their usual spotty havoc across the Prairies in the first half of August, the Canadian Crop Hail Association reports.
Members of the association are investigating more than 800 claims of crop damage reported to have occurred between Aug. 7 and 15.
In Saskatchewan, claims have been filed by farmers near Choiceland, Redvers, Bengough, Ogema, Pangman, Rouleau, Oungre, Regina, Pense, Craik, Earl Grey, Southey, Kelvington, Lintlaw, Okla, Kisbey, Arcola and Alida, the CCHA said.
Most of those were associated with one storm, said Darryl Tiefenbach of Additional Municipal Hail, in a news release.
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“The system moved up in a northeasterly path and produced hail in those areas with small stones to as large as tennis balls near Lintlaw,” he said.
Murray Bantle of Co-operative Hail Insurance Co., said cereals, pulses and oilseeds were damaged by hail in or near the Saskatchewan communities of Estevan, Stoughton, Weyburn, Fort QuAppelle, Outlook, Unity, Avonlea, Carrot River, Chamberlain, Earl Grey, Francis, Kelvington, Lintlaw, Montmartre, Regina, Rocanville, Southey, Yorkton, Alida, Antler, Redvers, Craik and Osage.
“The storm path was from the U.S. border primarily on the east side of the province,” said Bantle. “Pulse crops, such as peas, sustained heavy damage due to advance ripening.
“We continue to complete (claims from) our July storms. We are currently 84 percent complete. The average per claim is currently on par with the five-year average. Early hailed crops have been expensive due to severity of hail and little recovery.”
Canola, lentils, peas, wheat, durum, corn and flax in Alameda, Frobisher, Sheho, Shaunavon, Ponteix and Creelman were also damaged by hail, according to Tyson Ryhorchuk of Rain and Hail Insurance Service.
In Alberta, Camrose, Drumheller and Olds areas have seen hail claims, as well as Torrington, Wetaskiwin, New Norway, Three Hills, Viking, Trochu, Carseland, Cluny, Bowden, Bawlf, Hay Lakes, New Serepta, Linden, Swalwell, Irma and Etzikom.
Cassandra Holt of Canadian Hail Agencies added that storms also damaged crops in Rimbey, Falun, Ponoka, Daysland, Millet, Caron, Morrin, Calgary and Innisfree.
Manitoba hail companies reported damage to crops in the regions of Virden, Alexander, Lowe Farm and Morris.
“The storm came from Saskatchewan and headed east and met another storm coming north from South Dakota,” said Brendan Blight of Manitoba Agricultural Services Corp. Minor to moderate damage resulted and claims are still coming in.
Bantle said claims have also been filed by farmers in the regions of Solsgirth, Deloraine, Lyleton, Waskada, Melita, Minto, Wawanesa and Roland, where damage ranged from light to heavy and also featured tornado activity.
Reston, Sinclair, Brandon, Swan River and Labroquerie also saw hail earlier this month.
