In Part 2 of our spring primer series, Camrose reporter Mary MacArthur takes a look at central Alberta.
It will be at least a week before farmers in north-central Alberta seriously think about seeding and that’s if the forecasted rain doesn’t materialize.
Some farmers have started to “scratch around,” but potholes, low spots and sloughs filled with water make it difficult to get a good run at fieldwork, said Curtis Henkelmann, assistant agriculture fieldman with Leduc County.
“You can’t go the whole length of the field without making about 10 circles,” said Henkelmann, who has 2,500 acres to seed this spring.
Read Also
Agriculture ministers agree to AgriStability changes
federal government proposed several months ago to increase the compensation rate from 80 to 90 per cent and double the maximum payment from $3 million to $6 million
He estimates it will be May 9-10 before seeding begins in his area if the rain holds off and the sun starts to shine.
Despite the wet fields, farmers are generally optimistic. Prices for grain and oilseed crops have risen and there are potential new markets with proposed biofuel plants. Their concern isn’t about the weather, but the high cost of crop inputs, he said.
Farmers fall into two schools: those who will cut back on fertilizer and those who believe they need fertilizer if they’re going to get a good crop.
John Mayko of Mundare, Alta., said seeding should begin by the first weekend in May in his area. Good moisture and warm weather could make up for any delays in seeding because of the wet weather.
“It’s surprising how quickly things dry out,” said Mayko, agronomist with the Canola Council of Canada.
“No one is pushing the panic button yet.”
Farmers have started to watch the calendar knowing seed trials have proven many new crop varieties respond to early seeding. Peas, wheat and canola all do better when planted early.
“Things may be later than last year, but with very good soil moisture, the crop is going to have a very good chance of emerging very quickly,” said Mayko.
Harvey Thomas of Alliance, Alta., started cultivating April 25 as part of his minimum tillage seeding practice.
“It’s really drying faster than I ever expected,” said Thomas.
Snow soaked straight into the ground, providing good moisture for seeding, trees have started to bud and the crocus flowers are starting to dry out, telling Thomas that spring is on its way in central Alberta. The gooseberry bushes have also started to bud, another indicator that it’s time to plant wheat.
“It’s a perfect time for seeding wheat if you can get it in just before the full of the moon.”
Gordon Graves of Iron River, Alta., said he has turned his cattle onto pasture now that the green grass has started to poke out of the ground. Some of his neighbours in northeastern Alberta seeded peas at the end of April, but most are waiting for drier weather.
The biggest holdup to spring seeding is the price of fertilizer, he said.
Few farmers imagined the price of nitrogen and phosphorus would be so high by spring and are searching for places to save money on seeding.
Graves said the heavy winter snow has created good soil moisture this year. Last year there was good surface moisture, but no subsoil moisture. This year there is both.
“The pastures have excellent moisture and the dugouts are full, but not overfull,” said Graves.
“We bitched about all the snow we got through the winter, but it did give us the best spring moisture in 20 years.”
Allan Deutsch, agriculture fieldman for Lac Ste. Anne County, said it would be two to three weeks before serious seeding begins in his area northwest of Edmonton.
“The soils are quite saturated,” said Deutsch of Sangudo.
“The snow is gone, but there is quite a bit of standing water in all the low spots. The grass is just starting to turn green now.”
