Half-way into a stormy summer, hail insurance claims have already surpassed last year’s total, according to the Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation.
As of July 20, it had seen 1,206 hail claims. This compares to 513 at the same time in 2022. Last year saw 1,121 registered hail claims throughout the year.
Why it matters: High temperatures and spotty moisture were joined by damaging hailstorms during the first part of Manitoba’s summer.
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Rivers and Oak River, neighbouring communities just west and northwest of Brandon, were particularly hard hit. In early June, a storm pummeled the area, leaving trees and crops battered.
Photos of a house with shredded red vinyl siding caught the attention of multiple news outlets.
Flooding further damaged crops.
Eric McLean, who farms in the area, was among the farmers to file claims following that storm. When he spoke to the Co-operator via text on July 18, he was in the middle of yet another round of hail insurance paperwork, this time due to a storm in early July.
Ron Krahn, who farms near Rivers, took to Twitter to say he’s made four hail claims so far, including one field that he’s filed for twice. Two of the storms were minor, he told the Co-operator, but he’s also had some badly damaged crops.
McLean said his cereals recovered well from the first storm. He reseeded some canola and soybeans, which are progressing well but are very late.
“They’ll need a second wave of moisture and heat to catch up, but will need an open fall to achieve potential,” he said.
Provincial crop reports show heavy storms in late June led some fields around Bagot to be written off from hail damage.
The July 4 report shows “damaging hail” in the Gilbert Plains and Fork River areas, along with large hail—”some larger than golfballs”— at Newton, Oakville and Elm Creek.
In the July 11 report, outside of more damage near Rivers, hail was reported in the Swan Valley area, Newton, Elm Creek, St. Claude, Roland and Winkler. This resulted in lodging and defoliation, the report said.
“Intense hail” around Kleefeld and south of Steinbach is mentioned in the July 18 report, with damage assessments ongoing.
