Saskatchewan hail claims have slowed over the last two weeks, but some farmers were hit a second or third time this year, according to the Canadian Crop Hail Association.
An Aug. 5 storm nailed farmers in southeastern and southwestern Saskatchewan, netting hail claims from many communities, the insurers’ association report noted Monday.
Farmers as far north as Biggar, North Battleford, Foam Lake, Porcupine Plain and Melfort were also hit by hail Aug. 5. Farmers in the east-central area around Churchbridge filed claims after an Aug. 8 storm, the association noted in Monday’s report.
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Alberta hailstorms slowed down in the first part of August, giving hail adjusters a chance to catch their breath and catch up on claims from previous weeks.
Fields in the Nampa and High Prairie areas were hit by the Peace region’s first hail storm on Aug. 13. Farmers in the Camrose, Medicine Hat, Shuler and Sedgewick areas reported hail damage after an Aug. 12 storm.
An Aug. 5 storm forced farmers to file claims in the Medicine Hat, Olds, Vauxhall and Three Hills area. Damage has also been reported in the Fort Saskatchewan area.
Manitoba claim numbers are well below average for this time of year, the association said, but an Aug. 5 storm rolled through the north. Reported damage ranged from 50 per cent to 100 per cent in some areas.
As farmers begin harvesting hail-damaged crops, the association asks that they contact their insurance companies about leaving appropriate check strips or swaths.
— Lisa Guenther is a field editor for Grainews at Livelong, Sask.
