Canadian Hail Claims Rising

SASKATOON - Aug 9/07 - SNS -- Hail damage claims posted solid increases in Saskatchewan and Alberta during the past two week,s reports the Canadian Crop Hail Association.

As of August 6, hail claims in Saskatchewan had grown to over 7,700. Two weeks previous, the number stood at just over 4,500. The claim level has now climbed above the five-year average for this date.

Major storms hit on July 24 and July 31. The storm on the 24th hit crops around communities such as Lacadena, Eston, Elrose, Glidden, Eatonia, Kindersley and Marengo. The storm on the 31st resulted in claims scattered across the province. Communities affected include Melville, Balcarres, Yorkton, Ituna, Leross, Punnichy, Govan, Imperial, Davidson, Loreburn, Foam Lake, Semans, Hanley and Kindersley.

With harvest proceeding rapidly in southern areas, an increasing number of acres are now safe from hailstorms. However, the association stressed, "Producers are reminded to check with their insurance agents if they need to harvest crops before a claim adjuster arrives. Proper check strips are required and some of the requirements differ from other years. For instance, insurers want standing check strips of peas and lentils rather than having the damaged crop in swathes."

Over the past two weeks, hail claims for crop damage in Alberta have gone from over 1,500 to more than 2,100 These are the claims for hail insurance over and above crop insurance endorsements.

In this reporting period, major storms occurred in the Leduc to Camrose, Wainwright east and Carstairs to Hussar areas. However, hail claims in Alberta are about normal for this point in the season. Drought has become a bigger concern than hail for most growers.

Manitoba claim numbers continue to run ahead of normal due to early storms, but there has been little hailstorm activity over the past two weeks. Claims are over 2,800 for the year, but this is an increase of only a couple hundred from two weeks ago. Harvest is advancing rapidly in many parts of Manitoba.