Prairie crop hail claim payouts reach $230 million

Nov 22, 2024 | 5:00 AM

Member companies of the Canadian Crop Hail Insurance Association (CCHA) paid out $230 million to Western Canadian grain farmers.

With coverage in place, damaging storms resulted in nearly 11,000 claims this year.

CCHA president Scott McQueen said with strong crop pricing to start the year and high input costs, producers purchased more than $10 billion in crop hail coverage from members of the CCHA to protect their crops.

“This matched the record amount of liability set in 2023,” McQueen said. “The season had an unusually slow start but quickly picked up steam as the season progressed.”

There was severe crop damage in late August right up until the end of September with the week of Aug. 19 to 25 producing more than 2,800 claims and over one million in damaged acres.

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McQueen said there is always significant pressure to complete claims timely, especially late in the season.

“Farmers are under a time crunch with the ever-changing prairie weather to get their crops in the bin,” McQueen said. “Despite thousands of late season claims, member companies were able to complete all claims allowing producers to continue their dedicated work in the field.”

McQueen said growers should contact a CCHA member company if they have any questions regarding the 2024 season or want to start planning for 2025.

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by Alice McFarlane