(farmnewsNOW file photo)

By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

historically low

County of Stettler declares ‘agricultural disaster’ due to severe drought

Aug 13, 2021 | 9:31 PM

Severe drought conditions have led the County of Stettler council to declare an agricultural disaster.

In a news release Friday, the County cites a lack of snow pack, run-off and rainfall have combined with extended heat waves to render the third worst year in the last half-century for relative moisture conditions.

Council approved the declaration at its Aug. 11 meeting.

“Farmers are currently running combines on very short crops. We’re seeing crops that are too short for equipment to pick up,” said Larry Clarke, County Reeve. “Farmers are going to be struggling to make something of their crops, and producers are going to be paying to find feed that is not going to be readily available. Surface water in some areas is in severe depletion, or in many cases bone dry.”

On Aug. 6, the County notes, the Alberta Government announced a relief program for livestock and bee producers. Relief for other commodities, the County says, are yet to be announced.

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The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry says, however, that on Aug. 3, it did make an announcement of resources to help the ag industry withstand prolonged dry conditions.

In a statement to rdnewsNOW, the ministry notes this includes doubling the low yield threshold, a water pumping program, reducing premium costs for crop, pasture and forage insurance by 20 per cent, hiring 21 new adjusters through the AFSC, and the Livestock Tax Deferral.

“Alberta’s hardworking farmers and ranchers have been hit with dry conditions that threaten their livelihoods,” the statement says. “Alberta’s government will continue to do everything we can to support them through this exceptionally difficult year.”

On Aug. 6, the ministry continues, the government announced $136 million under the AgriRecovery framework, with the federal government expected to kick in an additional $204 million. That program will cover extraordinary costs facing the livestock sector to purchase feed, access water and fencing during the continued dry conditions, as these costs are not covered by existing business risk management programs, the ministry explains.

In County of Stettler, the situation is most dire in the southeast, with marginal improvement being seen in the northwest.

The County says most producers reported an intent to combine as the price of grains are holding, but those producers are expecting only limited economic benefit due to reduced yields (25-40 per cent).

Producers are reporting 20-40 per cent yield of normal hay crop harvests, the County adds, with pastures dry and bare, and producers now having to consider downsizing their herds.

As of Aug. 6, 22 communities in Alberta had declared an ‘agricultural disaster,’ including Foothills, Cypress, Brazeau, Wainwright, Vulcan, Beaver, Two Hills, Lac Ste. Anne, Special Areas 2, 3, and 4, Sturgeon, Acadia, Grande Prairie, Wheatland, St. Paul, Yellowhead, Greenview, Fairview, Paintearth, Minburn, Willow Creek, Rocky View, Lac La Biche, Smoky Lake and Newell.