Low prices and poor yields have put farmers in a sour mood this fall, says a northern crop specialist with Alberta Agriculture.
“It’s a double whammy,” said John Huffman of Grande Prairie.
While the quality of grain isn’t bad, low prices have hurt farmers in the area.
“If we had a decent price it wouldn’t be too bad,” said Huffman.
Because of the poor price and yield combination, many farmers are not spending the extra money this fall to fertilize or cultivate.
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The low rainfall also harmed a trial hemp crop in the area. One grower with a 15 acre trial plot hoped for 1,000 pounds per acre. Instead he got 100 lb. per acre.
Paul Laflamme, a special crops specialist in Grande Prairie, said another farmer with caraway did well.
“It was a nice return compared to other crops,” he said.
Crops turned out surprisingly well further south at Barrhead, considering the poor rainfall, said Ken Lopetinsky, a pulse and special crops specialist.
“We survived on last year’s snowmelt.”
Field peas yielded slightly above average and canola ranged from average to very good.
Farmers in the region desperately need rain. There are no soil reserves and farmers are holding back with fall work until they receive some moisture.
“The biggest concern has been just poor prices,” Lopetinsky said.
“The yields are acceptable, but the prices are not.”
Kirsty Piquette, special crops specialist in St. Paul, said there was a “quite a range” in pulse crop yields in the area. Peas ranged from 20 to 50 bushels per acre.
Ron Hockridge, cereals and oilseeds specialist in Wetaskiwin, said there are still a few farmers getting off the last of the crop. Overall, yields are slightly above average for the area and grades are generally good. As in other areas, price is a concern.
“Yields are decent, grades are decent, but prices are not what they should be,” he said.
In Airdrie, crop specialist Gordon Hutton said there are still a few farmers finishing with harvest. They’re happy with the volume and reasonably happy with quality.
Many are delaying fall work due to poor prices.
Brian Hunt, cereals and oilseeds specialist in Taber, said they’re in “lotus land” compared to the rest of the province.
“The impact of low commodity prices doesn’t dominate the coffee shop,” he said. “The mood is good, farmers are either growing potatoes or lease land to potato growers.”
Farmers are diversifying into anything but wheat, he added.
