Despite rain last week, farmers are still fighting what appears to be a losing battle with dry crop conditions. The summer has seen drought-like conditions persist, with very little precipitation falling in the last two months. Smoky River M.D. council was forced to claim an agricultural disaster this year, in part to the dry conditions and partly the considerable loss beekeepers have felt. Swather pictured belongs to Roch Bremont from Bremont farms, driven by Brad Janson.

Farmers across Alberta are trying to steadily harvest their crops in timely fashion. Many parts of the province have faced a number of obstacles, most notably a drought which has eliminated most chances of farmers having a bumper crop. Surrounding M.D.s have called upon the need to claim an agricultural disaster. Last week, the M.D. of Smoky River followed suit by claiming the region has suffered under major drought conditions. Reeve Donald Dumont recently stated the decision to seek financial disaster relief was to protect farmers from the dry weather. “We want to make sure that if the government comes out with additional funding our farmers are able to reap the benefits,” he explains. Dumont says that farmers have felt the brunt of skyrocketing prices, most notably the cost of fertilizer, fuel and seed. He says tacking on the additional loss of drought conditions may lead to farmers experiencing a bankruptcy from this year’s crop. The strategic plan for Alberta’s Agriculture Drought Risk Management was put together by Agricultural and Rural development. As a common part of southern Alberta’s climate, droughts have been recognized as a legitimate source of down fall for a farmer. The goal was to reduce the drought impact. The purpose of the plan is to recognize when drought situations arise and to make Agricultural ministers aware of the impact it is having on the crops and thus the farmers. Depending on the area, the plan of attack may be different. Whatever plan is best suited for the particular area will be used. Some of the ways the government can help is with; feed/livestock freight assistance program, emergency water hauling program, reduced rates for dugout water pumping, early assessment of tax deferral, drought disaster loans, grasshopper control, and direct acreage payment. They will then help implement the approved programs. Many local farmers have spoken about the patchy conditions their fields are in. The majority are concerned that they may not even yield 50 per cent of their normal crop. Rain that was much needed two months ago, finally fell the latter part of last week. However; due to the wet conditions, farmers were hesitant to continue harvesting their crops. Before the rain, one farmer voiced his opinions about how the heat and dry conditions was cracking the husks, dropping the seed on the ground and reducing his yield even further. The recent scorching heat has concerned a number of individuals this month, one of which is Smoky River Fire Chief Ian Fox. He says the conditions are so dry, that rocks are hitting off grader blades starting fires in the ditches. “We have requested the M.D. implement a fire ban for the region,” Fox said early last week. Some farmers north of Donnelly have fought all summer with raging crop fires. The average temperature hovered around the 30 degree Celsius mark for much of this summer. As a result crops have burned and the yield will be reduced. Beekeepers are feeling the effects of the hot weather as well. With their bees unable to produce the normal amount of honey for the area.