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By Curtis Galbraith and files from The Canadian Press

Crop yields down and rural Alberta areas deal with agricultural disasters

Sep 15, 2021 | 1:02 PM

GRANDE PRAIRIE, AB. — Saddle Hills County Council declared a state of agricultural disaster, during their council meeting on Tuesday, September 14.

The County says in a release that record heat and not enough rain has led to record low crop yields. They add producers are scrambling to find enough winter feed for their livestock.

It says some people are also looking at selling land that has been in the family for generations.

There is also worry about the availability of good water because of the drought.

“A Declaration of a State of Agricultural Disaster is designed to heighten awareness and collaboration among producers, industry, and provincial and federal governments,” outlines a County statement.

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“The County joins a growing number of rural municipalities in Western Canada that have declared states of emergency to draw political attention to the critical conditions of fields, pastures, and the availability of livestock feed, “says Reeve Alvin Hubert in the release.

The County of Grande Prairie and MD of Greenview also declared agricultural disasters back in July.

Recent figures confirm how much crop production is down across the prairies. There is not great news for crop production across the Prairies.

Canola output, based on satellite imagery, is now predicted to be 12-point-eight million tonnes about two million tonnes below the August 30th report, which used data gathered at the end of July.

The drought and extreme July heat had a much bigger effect on canola yields in Saskatchewan than on Alberta and Manitoba.

Statistics Canada has also cut its spring wheat estimate to 15-point-three million tonnes… the smallest spring wheat crop since 2007.

Lentil and pea crop production are also down.