Hail Claims Rising in Alberta

SASKATOON - Jun 19/08 - SNS -- Hail insurance sales have been good so far this season, helped by relatively good growing and crop conditions in many parts of western Canada, reports the Canadian Crop Hail Association.

"Recent substantial rains across most of the southern Prairies have improved crop prospects. However, warm weather is needed to advance crop development. If crop conditions remain favorable, hail insurance sales are expected to continue to be strong. Some companies have already reached their maximum liability in certain regions," the association said.

"There are exceptions to the generally good crop outlook. For instance, there has been limited rainfall in the northwest grainbelt of Saskatchewan this spring and germination is spotty on many of the later seeded crops."

Looking at Alberta, the association said there was "hail somewhere in the province on most days of the past two weeks. Total claims already number in the hundreds. There have been payable losses on some canola, peas, fall rye, winter wheat and special crops.

"In Saskatchewan, there have been a couple of significant hail events. A storm on June 8 has generated claims from the Spy Hill, Abernethy, Melville, Saltcoats, Yorkton region. A June 14 storm along the U.S. border affected crops around the communities of Torquay, Oungre, Rockglen and Radville.

"In Manitoba on June 8 a storm travelled from south of Neepawa to north of Portage la Prairie and generated a number of claims. Damage seems to be quite variable. There was also a storm June 17 in the Minitonas area, near Swan River."