Modernizing Crop Hail Insurance with Field-Level Intelligence
How Corvian helped Saskatchewan Municipal Hail Insurance (SMHI) strengthen hail claims assessments through remote sensing, forensic crop analysis and integrated weather intelligence.
Crop claims need more than storm data.
SMHI, a crop hail insurer founded in 1917, needed to modernize digital data sharing and claims intelligence while maintaining confidence in decisions affecting growers across the Prairies.
01Crop growth-stage precision
Accurately identifying canola flowering dates was critical to interpreting hail damage and supporting consistent settlements.
02Complex geographic coverage
Weather and hail intelligence had to be aligned with field boundaries across 14.6 million acres and three provinces.
03Fragmented vendor systems
Separate data, processing and software providers increased complexity and slowed operations.
04Time-sensitive decisions
Adjusters needed timely flowering-date analytics and storm reports during active claims cycles.
4.6 million acres of canola monitored.
Corvian gave Saskatchewan Municipal Hail Insurance a consistent view of crop development across millions of acres, connecting field conditions with the evidence adjusters need to evaluate hail damage. The project combined remote sensing and forensic crop analysis with daily weather, hailstorm and field-boundary data to strengthen claims decisions at enterprise scale.
One integrated approach to crop hail claims.
Instead of coordinating multiple vendors, SMHI worked with Corvian for agricultural data, processing and software. Four complementary capabilities turned field observations into timely information for claims teams.
Monitor crop development
Analyze canola growth stages across the monitored acreage to establish field-level crop conditions.
Identify flowering dates
Determine flowering dates to provide time-sensitive evidence for hail-damage assessment.
Locate storm impacts
Connect daily weather and hailstorm information with geospatial field boundaries across three provinces.
Support adjusting decisions
Deliver integrated analytics and reporting that support more consistent, timely claims assessments.
Corvian also worked through regular reviews and client feedback to adapt delivery to SMHI’s operational needs.
Better intelligence. Faster operational response.
Forensic analysis turnaround
Time-sensitive requests, including flowering-date analyses, were consistently completed within two to three days.
Responsive delivery
Deliverables were returned the same or next day in 98% of cases, as documented in the SMHI case study.
Integrated service model
Consolidated data, processing and software reduced vendor complexity and improved operational visibility.
The published case study also reports more accurate hailstorm event data than previous providers, without specifying a percentage improvement.
“Through Corvian innovative solutions, including precision farming tools and data-driven insights, we are working towards improving the loss adjustment experience we provide to our claimants to improve accuracy and the timing of loss assessments.”
Understanding digital crop claims intelligence.
How does remote sensing support crop hail insurance?
Remote sensing helps identify crop development stages and provides field-level context for evaluating hail damage. In the SMHI project, Corvian used it alongside forensic flowering-date analytics.
Why are canola flowering dates important in hail claims?
The crop's growth stage influences damage assessment. The SMHI case study identifies accurate flowering-date analysis as a critical input to consistent and reliable claims decisions.
How does weather data connect to insured fields?
Corvian integrated daily weather and hailstorm information with geospatial field-boundary overlays, helping SMHI track storm impacts across a large insured area.
Can agricultural insurance intelligence scale across large regions?
The SMHI project monitored 4.6 million canola acres, while the project addressed weather and hail data across 14.6 million acres in three provinces.
What is the advantage of a single technology provider?
Combining data, processing and software through one partner can reduce vendor coordination, improve visibility and simplify operational workflows, as described in the SMHI project.
