Submitted by the Canadian Crop Hail Association
September 5, 2017
Overview
The warm and dry weather that was so common during June and July continued into late August. This allowed farmers to get a great start on harvesting, with activity across much of the prairies reported as well above the five-year average for this time of year.
Despite concerns this hot summer weather would greatly affect crops, many regions are reporting better yields than expected. However, the southern areas in Saskatchewan are struggling to meet averages, especially where the canola crops are concerned.
Ground conditions remain extremely dry across much of the southern prairies, with Saskatchewan and Alberta posing an extreme fire risk, according to Environment Canada. Grassfires in the two provinces have been a familiar sight over the past several weeks.
While Alberta has experienced more storms through the latter part of the month, Saskatchewan and Manitoba remain quiet. Hail claims in these two provinces are down and well below the five-year average.
Alberta
Crop harvest is progressing rapidly in southern Alberta, and is approximately 10 days ahead of the average. Harvest is now underway in central Alberta, which is normal timing, and will be approximately a couple of weeks behind in other areas due to the late spring seeding conditions.
The recent hot, dry weather around the province has been great for advancing maturity and for the beginning of harvesting, however, those later seeded acres will need a longer frost-free autumn to ripen in the more northern areas.
Dryland yields are predicted to be below the five-year average overall. Early estimates predict five to 10 per cent lower yields provincially, with the southern areas most affected at an estimated 25 to 30 per cent below normal, and the central region 10 to 15 per cent below average.
Conversely, the northeast and Peace areas are estimating yields approximately 10 per cent above the average. There also have been some reports of quality being negatively affected by the extreme moisture conditions.
Crop conditions rated good or excellent are estimated at almost 80 per cent in the northeast area, between 55 and 60 per cent in the northwest and Peace areas, approximately 45 per cent in central Alberta and a dismal one-third of crops in the south are rated as good to excellent.
Haying the second cut is well advanced, however, the lack of moisture in the south and in central regions has seriously affected the yields for both hay and pasture.
Dryland hay in south doesn’t have enough production for a second cut of hay, but irrigation is looking good.
Livestock producers, especially in the south and parts of central areas, are facing pulling their animals from pasture earlier than normal or providing supplemental feed.
Hail activity has slowed down and there were a few very small localized storms throughout Alberta over the last two weeks. Storms of note include:
• Aug. 18 – Areas around Elk Point, Heinsburg, Two Hills, Vermilion, Dewberry and Marwayne suffered light to moderate hail damage to crops, from pea sized stones blown in on strong winds with up to an inch of rain.
• Aug. 24 – Widespread parts of Alberta saw some massive storm cells roll through with some reports of more than one inch of rain and winds up to 120 kilometres per hour causing all sorts of damage to farms. There was word of roofs ripped off and trees and grain bins blown over. The majority of crops were not quite mature enough for shelling damage to occur, but many were flattened by the wind and hail caused moderate to heavy damage with bruising and broken stems or heads. Areas hit include Rocky Mountain House, Ponoka, Ferintosh, Lacombe, Bawlf, Edberg, Holden, Ranfurly, Bruce, Innisfree, Ryley, Myrnam, Vegreville, Barrhead, Manola, Pibroch and Hazel Bluff.
Other very small, localized storms occurred the same day in and around Nampa, Girouxville, Tangent, LaCrete, Grimshaw, Spirit River, High Prairie, Athabasca, Stony Plain, Three Hills and Strathmore. Crop damage in these areas was reported as light to moderate.
Saskatchewan
Harvest is well above the five-year average, with close to 25 per cent of the crop now in the bin. The average for this time of year is 16 per cent. Twenty-four per cent of the crop is swathed or ready to straight-cut.
Harvest is most advanced in the southwestern region, where 49 per cent of the crop is now combined. The southeastern region has 37 per cent combined, the west-central region 23 per cent and the east-central region 14 per cent.
Activity is slower in the north. The northeastern region has four per cent combined, while the northwestern region has five per cent of the crop in the bin.
Ninety-eight per cent of fall rye and winter wheat, 76 per cent of lentils, 74 per cent of field peas, and 10 per cent of canola have been combined. Thirty-nine per cent of canola and 25 per cent of spring wheat and mustard are swathed or ready to straight-cut.
Following the trend from previous summer months, the majority of the province received little to no rainfall in late August. The highest rainfall (10 mm) was reported in the Rama area.
With the warm temperatures and lack of rainfall this past week, topsoil moisture conditions continue to deteriorate. Across the province, topsoil moisture on cropland is rated as one per cent surplus, 26 per cent adequate, 44 per cent short and 29 per cent very short.
Lack of rain continues to be the main culprit for crop damage throughout the province. Also, there are some reports of spraying for bertha armyworm.
Hail activity continues to be below average in the province.
A couple of storms to report from late August:
Aug. 26 - Only a few claims (seven) have been reported for this date. Hail was reported near Antler, Bethune and Carievale.
Aug. 31 - This cell passed through the Yorkton area and tracked east across the Manitoba border.
Manitoba
Rain fell throughout the province during the last week of August, but most areas received limited amounts. Rain is still needed in late season crops and on pastures. Regions that received good and timely moisture have a promising crop.
Winter cereal and pea harvest is complete in most areas. Harvest continues in spring cereals and canola.
Most of the southwest region received little to no rain during the past week, the exception was Brandon and the surrounding areas.
Winter wheat and fall rye harvest is complete with average yields and good quality. Spring cereal harvest is under way. Canola harvest is just starting and swathing continues.
Second cut alfalfa harvest continues, with yields average to above average.
There are some reports of spraying for bertha armyworm in the Minnedosa and Sandy Lake areas. Flea beetles are emerging again.
Further north, most of the region remains dry with very dry soil moisture conditions in the Roblin area. Crops are generally in good condition, with the exception of some areas suffering from extremes of moisture where crops are in fair to poor condition.
Activity is steady, however. Harvest of winter wheat and fall rye is nearing completion. Spring wheat is ripening, with about 50 per cent of the crop combined in the Roblin area and 10 per cent combined in the Swan River area. Spring wheat harvest is underway in Dauphin and Ste. Rose.
Approximately 25 per cent of canola fields around Swan River are swathed, and 75 per cent are swathed around Roblin. Canola swathing is also well underway around Dauphin with some canola combined around Ste. Rose.
The warm and dry conditions have allowed producers to make good progress in putting up feed.
Since the last report, just a couple of storms of note:
Aug. 21 – The cell began just north of Gladstone and travelled south and hit Austin, Notre Dame and Somerset areas. The damage has been reported as minor to moderate and adjusting is trying to stay ahead of the combines.
That same day there was also a storm that travelled over the lakes and hail hit the areas between Fisher Branch, Riverton and Arborg. Similar to the storm down south, the damage was reported as moderate.
Aug. 26 - Only a handful of claims (seven) have been reported for this date. Hail has been reported near Melita, Minto and Pierson.
Sept. 1 – This cell travelled along the western border with Saskatchewan and passed through areas near Rhien and Roblin.
There have been a few scattered storms in Swan River, Grandview, Deloraine and Birtle, but they resulted only in a handful of claims at each location with minor damage.
Harvest is a little behind in those areas as compared to down south, but adjustors are still working at staying ahead of the combines.
Hail activity continues to be well below the five-year average in Manitoba.
Who we are:
The Canadian Crop Hail Association (CCHA) has been serving the crop insurance industry in one form or another since 1915. It is a member-driven organization that represents the interests of the Canadian Crop Hail managing general agencies and insurance companies. CCHA member companies write Crop-Hail insurance product totalling approximately $250 million in premium, with liability totalling approximately $5 billion. Our companies service all farmers in the three prairie provinces. These private and government agencies together provide a risk management tool to the Canadian prairie farmer.
What the CCHA does:
Operates as an insurance advisory organization;
Gathers and distributes industry statistics and information to members;
To develop and provide in conjunction with national crop insurance services, provincial insurance superintendents and provincial insurance councils procedures and forms for adjustment of losses;
To conduct research, training and education activities in order to promote improved knowledge and understanding of the appropriate aspects of crop hail insurance.
