EDMONTON – A series of weather monitoring stations in Alberta is
intended to help farmers learn more about drought conditions and change
their management plans to better cope with drought.
“It will help identify areas more prone to drought,” said Alberta
agriculture minister Shirley McClellan while announcing the Alberta
Drought Monitoring Program, also called Droughtnet.
The $1.7 million joint federal and provincial program will build 34
weather-monitoring stations to enhance the province’s existing weather
network.
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The stations will monitor climate and soil moisture and track drought
location, extent and severity.
“We know some areas are more prone to drought. It will define where the
risks areas are.”
Alberta farmers, especially those in the province’s southern and
eastern regions, have been hit hard by drought and have been forced to
look for water and feed for their cattle.
By identifying the risk areas, local farmers can change the way they
manage grass, water and feed, and learn which crops can better
withstand drought.
Agriculture Canada will contribute $500,000 to the project from its
Rural Water Development Program. The Alberta government will pay the
rest.
The stations will be completed by April 2003.
The Alberta government has also extended two farm water programs to
help farmers deal with drought.
Last year’s Alberta Farm Water Program has been extended until Nov. 30,
to allow farmers to complete long-term water supply projects.
Under the program, farmers can build dugouts, drill wells or carry out
water projects to help secure long-term water for their farms.
The Alberta government helps cover the cost of the projects.
As well, the government has reduced the rental rates for pumping
equipment for a third year in a row.
The equipment is used to fill dugouts from local water sources. Last
year 1,354 clients pumped an estimated 2.5 million cubic meters of
water with the equipment.
