Southern Alberta farmers are expressing gratitude for the timely heavy rainfall that has blanketed much of the province since the weekend, providing much-needed moisture for crops and pastures.
Environment Canada has issued a yellow rainfall warning covering most of the province, with additional precipitation of 30 to 70 millimetres expected through Tuesday. Total rainfall is likely to reach 50 to 100 mm in most regions, according to the federal agency.
Farmers Breathe Sigh of Relief
Dean Hubbard, who farms east of Claresholm, reported that his farm has received almost five centimetres of rain. "A lot of people are breathing a sigh of relief on seeing this moisture," said Hubbard on Monday. He noted that soil moisture had been critically low, with pasture grass failing to regrow this spring and most dugouts remaining dry. His farm's winter wheat and fall rye crops were beginning to stress. "We couldn't have waited too much longer for rain," he added.
Doug Logan, whose family farm is located in eastern Vulcan County, described the rain as a "million-dollar rain." He explained that the moisture is recharging everything from soil reserves to people's wells. The farm, which planted a variety of crops this spring and has about 150 cattle, had a better start with moisture than last year, but recent rains had missed their land. "It'll keep stuff going, for sure," said Logan. He noted that pastures were starting to burn, with most turning yellow, and that the area has faced a moisture deficit over the past four or five years. "There's no subsoil," he said. "Even in the pastures next to mom and dad's here, there's dugouts there that haven't been dry for decades and they're dry right now. Hopefully they get some water into them."
Rain Benefits Crops and Grasslands
Jana Bartsch, another Vulcan County farmer, reported that her family farm also received about five cm of rain. She said the moisture came at a good time, with crops beginning to dry out and seeding having wrapped up a week and a half ago. The rain will benefit both the crops and the grasslands, and will also slow down insects. "This will help the crops get through probably the next month, and hopefully we'll get some more," said Bartsch. However, she noted that dugouts are not in good shape due to a lack of a "good snowy winter" to replenish them.
The heavy rainfall has brought optimism to farmers across Southern Alberta, who are hopeful that the moisture will sustain their crops and livestock through the coming weeks.
