Earlier this month, storms across western Canada produced tennis ball sized hail in some areas, causing severe crop damage.

The storms occurred between July 6th and the 18th.

Canadian Crop Hail Association companies are investigating 3,241 claims made by farmers in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta.

Murry Bantle of Co-operative Hail Insurance Company said customers in Manitoba filed 26 claims after storms July 8 and 11 damaged oilseeds, pulses, cereals.

Manitoba farmers in Brandon, Rapid City, St. Cloud and Morden filed 39 claims after hail damaged crops July 13-17. The storms hit west-central Manitoba to southeast of Winnipeg.

“So far we have completed 76 percent of our June storm adjustments with below the 5-year average payouts,” Bantle said. “July 1-10 storms are 23 percent adjusted with average claims so far below the 5-year average. However, some of the outstanding early July storms have been deferred.”

Farmers in the Manitoba communities of Roseisle, Brunkild and Russell made 123 claims after toonie-sized hail damaged cereals, canola, soybeans, edible beans and corn, according to Brendan Bight of Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation. The storms occurred July 9 and 11.

Farmers in the Hamiota area made 377 claims after a July 15 storm produced pea to toonie-sized hail, blight said. canola, cereals, peas and soybeans were damaged.