If you think this week's rain means relief for Alberta farmers, think again

In the southeast corner of Vulcan County, located a little more than an hour southeast of Calgary, Deanna Heather navigates a county truck down a back road, past fields of native grass that today are nearly devoid of colour.

There's always going to be a certain amount of dead, brown grass at this time of year. But the level seen this year, in Heather's view, is astonishing. 

"Nothing's dead yet, but it's getting there," Heather, who is the lead hand in the agricultural department for Vulcan County, said on Wednesday.

Alberta farmers have been facing down a disquieting start to the season this year, not that far removed from devastating drought conditions two years ago that saw multiple provincial municipalities declaring agricultural disasters.

This year, soil moisture reserves are nearly depleted in large portions stretching from Cold Lake, extending south to the Lethbridge area, as well as across significant parts of the Peace Region, according to the provincial government's most recent moisture situation report.

It's led many areas facing soil moisture reserves at 50-year lows for this time of year.

Rain did fall on the province this week, and more is expected in the forecast in the days to come. But Alberta farms will need much more help before anyone here in Vulcan County, or elsewhere in the province, can breathe a sigh of relief.

"That rain we had today will do a lot for the crops that are there," said Heather.

"But given how dry everything is, it wasn't really an effective rain … we're going to have to see two-plus more inches in the next month in order to get to a level where things are good."

Heather stops her vehicle on the side of the road, next to a field of canola, the landscape dotted by wind farms and the prairie sky full of clouds. Exiting the vehicle, she gestures to a green patch off in the distance.

"Assuming this field got seeded on time this spring, it should all be growing at the same stage as that patch over there," Heather said. "The rest of it is either significantly behind, or not germinated at all."

Heather has lived around the county for nearly three decades. She's familiar with the people, the landmarks, the industry. She farms, too, and said last year brought some needed rain — but it hasn't been enough.

"We just haven't seen it for seven years, honestly. Our rainfall has been significantly lower than it should be for that extended period of time," she said.

"Given how dry, how early, it's been this year … I don't want to say it's culminated. Because maybe it'll get worse."

More rain needed on a frequent basis

The conditions that have led to these challenges come from a warm, dry fall — and a spring that failed to recharge soil moisture, according to the province's moisture situation report.

This week's rain, while welcome, won't be spread equally across the province, and the needs of these farms require a sustained period of relief, said Danny LeRoy, an associate professor in economics at the University of Lethbridge who coordinates the university's agriculture studies program.

"[We'll need] a little more than average precipitation for the rest of June and first week of July (five to six inches), good soakers," he wrote in an email.

"Spread out over time for good soil absorption and subsequent plant uptake, throughout the prairies, but in Alberta especially, would go a long way to allay anxieties."

At Lismore Farms, a mixed irrigation and dryland operation less than an hour north of Lethbridge, things are "getting really ugly," said owner Malcolm MacDougall.

Two years ago, MacDougall said the drought was the worst he had seen in his nearly 40 years working on the farm, but he's worried the coming year will be worse.

"The difference being is the timing. Everything is about time. And this year, the heat and the drought came early," he said.

Agriculture a key part of Alberta's economy

Agriculture is a key part of Alberta's economy, contributing $8.1 billion in GDP in 2021 and employing more than 58,300 Albertans, according to Invest Alberta. 

For farmers, spring is usually a hopeful — if very busy — time of year. It's also expensive.

Farmers are facing the prospect of shouldering the costs of putting the crops into the ground, most of which has already been spent, said Keith Currie, president of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture.

This spring, dry conditions are adding stress. 

"There's the prospect of not getting a crop, which certainly would leave them in a very, very tough financial situation," Currie said.

"Then, there's the spin-off effect of all the local communities that have support services for agriculture and all the people that they employ."

It's been a challenging year across the board, with conditions that are tied to suffering crops — with increased weed pressure and "phenomenal pest pressure" from grasshoppers, cutworms, flea beetles and other pests, said Tory Campbell, the reeve of Lethbridge County who also farms just south of Coaldale.

"Every time we load the drill and put the crop in the ground, we accept the risks that go with it," Campbell said.

"But I do think that, on the back of a couple challenging drought years, then entering into this year with no real promise of any huge precipitation in the forecast, for sure, weighs on everyone."

Trouble extends to livestock producers

Past periods of extreme drought and weather has led beef producers in Canada and in the U.S. to thin herds in near-record numbers.

That's been a major concern for producers in the province, with many worried about how they'll keep their herds together and keep operating moving forward, said Brodie Hogan, chair of Alberta Beef Producers.

Producers are facing some big questions: Do they sell cows, or do they try to find alternate locations for the summer for them to graze — if they can even find a place?

"Do you try to find feed to keep them in a corral, and continue to feed them in hopes that rain comes?" said Hogan, who is also a beef producer from Orion. 

"A lot of areas are having a really hard time trying to find water, and there isn't water in these areas. So getting water to these animals is another extremely hard thing to do, and a big expense for operations."

Long-term solutions being discussed

Long-term solutions will need to be discussed, though they won't affect anyone who needs help today, said Currie, the president of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture.

"Are there financial opportunities to help support the farmers, and the businesses that support farmers? Are there opportunities for groups to get together to maybe supply some necessary feed for livestock?" Currie said.

"Are there going to be other lands available where there perhaps is some moisture that people can move cattle to if that's an opportunity? I think, right now, everything's on the table."

Dry conditions are a top concern now, said Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation RJ Sigurdson.

In a statement to CBC News, he said the ministry constantly monitors crop and water supply conditions across Alberta.

He said the province's water pumping program is available to help producers secure adequate water supplies for domestic, livestock or agricultural uses.

"Alberta's government remains committed to ensuring the viability of our agriculture industry and we are looking into options to support impacted producers," Sigurdson wrote.

The situation emerging is highly unusual, said LeRoy, the University of Lethbridge professor, but more timely rain in the next week or two would help to make a difference.

"These people have hundreds of thousands, and millions of dollars, at risk. And they're praying for rain," he said. "You ever been in a position like that?"