Minnedosa Tribune
CLOSE CALL
DARRELL NESBITT/MINNEDOSA TRIBUNE
Close plays were the name of the game between the Portage Phillies and the host team, the Minnedosa Bisons, on Saturday, July 11, even though Portage posted a decisive win in the Tier 3 U13 Baseball Provincials contest. Here, Bisons’ catcher, Jayden Fleury, awaits for the ball thrown by first baseman, Connor Betteridge, with the hopes of getting the tag down on a Phillies’ base runner at home in time, which didn’t occur in the extremely close play.
Crop damage claims come flooding in
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.
SEE CLAIMS , PAGE 2
RACHEAL FLINTOFT
Minnedosa Tribune