We make it worthyourdrive! Scan toseeour fullinventory
Kenton 204-838-2240
Shoal Lake 204-759-2385 www.woodworthdodge ca
Crossroads
SPLASH DOWN
DARRELL NESBITT/CROSSROADS THIS WEEK
Viella Higgins of Cochrane, AB, left, and Alex Main of Brandon, grandchildren of Craig and Sue-Anne Price of Hamiota, were all for making a splash in the Lakeview Park’s swimming area on Monday, July 13, to beat the heat and humidity. The blow up climbing apparatus, along with another that allows a bouncy jump into the water, allows older park users and Shoal Lake visitors to have some fun while cooling off.
Crop damage claims come flooding in
RACHEAL FLINTOFT
Crossroads This Week
Insurance adjusters across the region are struggling to reach flood-soaked fields, leaving farmers waiting on crop damage claims that cannot move forward until someone can get out to inspect the loss.
To date, more than 2,000 claims have been filed across Manitoba and Saskatchewan so
far, and the number is still climbing.
The Canadian Crop Hail Association said the claims stem from storms between June 22 and July 5, which brought golf ball to baseball sized hail to parts of the region, along with damaging wind and widespread flooding. Crops affected in Manitoba include barley, canola, corn, edible beans, fababeans, flax, lentils, mustard, oats, peas, rye, soybeans, sunflow-
ers, and wheat.
Communities named in the report include Hamiota, Kenton, Minnedosa, Newdale, Oakburn, Rivers, Roblin, Rossburn, Shoal Lake, Strathclair, St. Lazare, and Virden, among others.
While hail is what triggered many of the claims, insurers said flooding remains the bigger obstacle. Brian Bernauer, with Rain and Hail Insurance Services, explained the problem.
“These conditions are proving to be a challenge to get to field locations with only back road access,” Bernauer said.
Adjusters are working to set up appointments with producers, but muddy, washed-out roads across the Parkland and Westman regions are slowing that process down. Until an adjuster can physically inspect a field, a claim cannot move forward.
Farmers with an existing Agri-
Insurance contract through the Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation, known as MASC, are covered for both hail and flood-related losses under the same policy. AgriInsurance protects against production and quality losses caused by drought, excess moisture, flood, hail, fire, wind, frost, and several other natural perils.
CLAIMS PAGE 2
