Hail damage and dry weather hamper grain and forage crops

Looking surprisingly good despite stresses

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Published: August 9, 2019

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Rathwell received large hail after a chain of storms hit the region Aug. 1.

Severe thunderstorms scattered hail across southern Manitoba on July 31 and mangled a few crops.

Crop insurance claims were just beginning to come in on the afternoon of August 1, said David Van Deynze of Manitoba Agriculture Services Corporation.

Van Deynze said they were seeing a bank of claims from the U.S. border, ranging up through Snowflake, Manitou and Treherne. A few claims had also come in from the Portage la Prairie area.

Van Deynze said, thus far, damages don’t seem “overly drastic.”

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Environment Canada reported hail ranging from “nickel sized” south of Holland and Elie to “teacup sized” at Rathwell.

Interviewed July 30, KAP president Bill Campbell was cautiously optimistic about the crop outlook.

“I think a lot of people are surprised at what the crops look like for what they’ve gone through. We’ll have to wait and see when it’s in the bin.”

Campbell added that conditions are variable across the province, “just like the rains have been.” Beans and corn will need more rain to finish.

On the forage front, Campbell said feed is going to be an issue and KAP will look to help producers where it can. He encouraged producers to go to feed specialists. “It’s better to be proactive.

“If we don’t get another rain and you’re feeding on September 15, that’s a long, long winter,” said Campbell.

About the author

Geralyn Wichers

Geralyn Wichers

Digital editor, news and national affairs

Geralyn graduated from Red River College's Creative Communications program in 2019 and launched directly into agricultural journalism with the Manitoba Co-operator. Her enterprising, colourful reporting has earned awards such as the Dick Beamish award for current affairs feature writing and a Canadian Online Publishing Award, and in 2023 she represented Canada in the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists' Alltech Young Leaders Program. Geralyn is a co-host of the Armchair Anabaptist podcast, cat lover, and thrift store connoisseur.

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