Saskatchewan Hail Insurers Predict Loss

SASKATOON - Sep 21/06 - SNS -- Members of the Canadian Crop Hail Association are predicting this year's claims will exceed premiums paid by farmers for a net loss on hail insurance.

Although not all the claims have been adjusted and not all the numbers have been tallied, indications are that hail claim payouts for Saskatchewan crop damage this year will match or exceed the premiums paid by producers. The last time that happened was 2001.

Some companies are still working to clear the backlog of claims that poured in during the month of August. Late season storms on September 13 and September 15 have added to the workload.

"The latest storms hit crops in the Humboldt, Wakaw, Melfort and Carrot River regions," noted Murray Otterson, head of the one of the member companies of the Canadian Crop Hail Association. "Canola and flax were the main crops hit as many other fields had already been harvested."

Otterson notes that the heavy rain of the past week has delayed the progress of crop adjusters. Adjusters are returning to the job as field conditions permit.