Farm Claims Increase As Hail Shreds Alberta Crops

Severe weather is taking a toll on some Alberta farmers this growing season with insurance claims being dominated by hail damage. Stephen Vandervalk grows wheat, barley and canola near Fort Macleod and is the vice president of the Western Canadian Wheat Growers’ Association in Alberta. He said about half of his farm has been hit by hail, and that barley and peas are especially susceptible to that kind of damage. "It’s a very stressful thing for farmers. You can have your whole year’s work wiped out in literally five minutes," Vandervalk said. Southern Alberta has been walloped with hail over the past 30 days, and it’s hitting local farmers hard.