(File photo/farmnewsNOW Staff)

By Alice McFarlane

Agriculture Roundup

Agriculture Roundup for Monday June 29, 2020

Jun 29, 2020 | 9:50 AM

Early season storm activity made it a busy start to hail season for adjusters.

Canadian Crop Hail Association said storms occurred in late May until the middle of June. According to the data about 200 hail claims were reported across the prairies.

Most of the claims are in Alberta with about 120 claims from the Taber, Coaldale and Vauxhall areas and another 40 to 50 claims from Saskatchewan mainly around Cadillac and Albertville.

President Rick Omelchenko said damage was light to medium.

“More damage on our lentils and peas, beans and canola than our cereals. The cereals really didn’t get affected too much because of the stage of growth, it was early enough that it’s not really hurting them,” Omelchenko said. “But on the other plants there is some damage but it’s not too severe at this time because of the crop being at its earliest stages.”

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Omelchenko said Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation reported damage to fall rye, wheat, canola, soybeans and sunflowers in the Altona, Elkhorn and Miniota areas.

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Arcola rancher Chris Lees has been re-elected president of Canadian Western Agribition.

Lees has been involved with Agribition since 1971. He operates C & T Cattle Company at Arcola. Executive members include vice president Kim Hextall of Grenfell, Levi Jackson of Sedley, Marty Kratochvil of Milden and Michael Latimer of Calgary.

The executive committee also includes past president Bruce Holmquist of Kinistino.

The annual meeting was held in a virtual format last week.

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Ontario reported 257 new cases of COVID-19 and seven new deaths related to the virus.

The Ministry of Health said it was able to complete more than 27,000 tests for the novel coronavirus yesterday.

Over 180 agri-food workers in Windsor-Essex tested positive for COVID-19 over the weekend.

The results come as the government and local health units ramp up testing of the farm workers.

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alice.mcfarlane@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @AliceMcF