Hail claims are running ahead of 2007’s pace in Alberta and Saskatchewan this year.
The Canadian Crop Hail Association, which represents companies that sell crop hail insurance to producers in Western Canada, compiles information on storms and claims in its bi-weekly Hail Report.
The July 31 report said 3,450 hail claims had been filed in Alberta, with Saskatchewan numbers approaching 10,500. Manitoba claims are at 1,600, slightly below normal for this time of year.
The Alberta numbers, which do not include the hail endorsement offered as part of crop insurance coverage in that province, are ahead of last year, which was a record year for claims.
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A July 15 storm hit Vulcan, Taber, Lethbridge, Picture Butte, Enchant, Carmangay, Lomond and Barons, a July 16 system affected Lethbridge, Fort Macleod and Warner and a July 27 storm struck Olds, Airdrie, Wainwright and Provost.
In Saskatchewan, where the claim total is double the number expected at this time of year, most storms occurred between July 6 and 11.
Hardest hit is the southwest.
On July 10, golf ball-sized hail pelted horses and buildings and decimated a 4.5 acre grape crop at Cypress Hills Vineyard and Winery between Maple Creek and Fort Walsh.
“We won’t have to pick any grapes this year,” Marie Bohnet said.
She does not have crop insurance on her fruit crops but may pursue such options in the future.
She said the storm struck at 8 p.m., breaking house windows and leaving four horses with welts on their backs.
“I’ve never seen hail that big; we don’t get a lot of hail in this country,” Bohnet said.
The hailstorm means the farm will be unable to produce a 2010 wine from its north slope grapes, she added.
The chokecherries are doing well, but the saskatoon harvest will be half of normal.
Bohnet said the farm’s hay crop was also knocked back by as much as 50 percent, with grain crops in the community also suffering losses. Damage to buildings was extensive, with hail punching holes in the siding of one relative’s home.
The Bohnet family opened the winery, gift shop and bistro to the public last year after dealing with the impact of the BSE outbreak in Canada.
