By Matt Nemeth @CHATTVMNemeth

Almost complete disaster – SE Alberta farmer hasn’t seen this much moisture in 34 years

Nov 4, 2016 | 10:04 AM

MEDICINE HAT – It’s been a tough couple months for Alberta farming communities. This week two counties in the central part of the province declared states of agricultural disaster, because wet weather has brought their fall harvests to a near standstill. The latest provincial crop report says southern Alberta is faring much better when it comes to harvest percentages, but that doesn’t mean it’s been smooth sailing for everyone here.

For Hilda farmer Brad Haas the next few days in the field represent the final push in his 2016 harvest season. But Haas says the fall harvest season this year has been a complete disaster almost.

“I’ve never seen it this wet,” said Haas while taking a break from manning his combine Thursday. “This is my fifth month of harvest. I started July 28 with some rye and it’s now November and I’m still at it because we had a 24 day stint where we couldn’t turn a wheel because of fog, rain. Things are tough, it’s stressful.”

Adding to the stress is what the moisture is doing to the grain that’s being harvested. Haas says it’s making it tough, and grain companies don’t want it when it’s in that condition. He’s purchased a grain dryer to combat that problem, which was an added cost he didn’t anticipate before the farming season began. Couple that with a downgraded value for his yield and it’s a double whammy.

“Because the grades are poor it’s a bit of a discount and our bottom line is not going to be where we thought it might be,” says Haas.

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Lately though Mother Nature has given Haas a bit of a break, and he’s hoping to get the rest of his wheat and barley that’s remaining in his field harvested in the next few days. Then he hopes to put 2016 behind him for good.

“I think we’re all pretty edgy and would just like to have it over with. We’re past the denial stage, I think we’re just kind of accepting it now. I just want to get this finished and get on.”

As Haas enters the home stretch of this season’s harvest he’s keeping a close eye to the weather forecast, because one thing in particular could put an abrupt stop to things.

“Any day it snows that could be it for this year.”