LETHBRIDGE, Alta. — There is still a chance that timely rain or snow will fall in southern Alberta, but the clock is ticking against farmers in the region, say area Agricore delegates.
Talk at a regional director-delegate meeting last week focused on the continuing drought conditions in the province’s southern regions.
Ross Ford, who farms east of Coutts, Alta., said the drought has already altered his farming plans.
“I will buy as much crop insurance as possible and will go with the bare minimum of crop inputs like fertilizer,” he said.
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“And if it stays this dry, I may even cut back on what I planned for inputs.”
Ford said the drought last year will ease the fertilizer bill this spring.
Soil tests on his fields show 30 to 100 pounds of fertilizer remained in the ground over winter because last year’s drought discouraged plant growth.
“For sure, if there is no moisture in the next month, this will be the driest year on record,” he said.
Richard Sauer, who farms north of Etzikom, Alta., said slumping commodity prices compound the problem. With low commodity prices and rising input costs, margins are razor-thin.
“Why bother farming because there is no bottom line anyway.”
Gary Schneider of Raymond, Alta., said moisture is the big issue in his area. Even farmers who get water from the Raymond Irrigation District have been notified their water supply will likely be cut off in the middle of the irrigating season.
“What is the sense of irrigating a crop to get a good stand only to watch it burn up in the heat without water.”
Schneider said one bright spot in agriculture is the cattle sector.
