What can be done to help manage the agricultural disaster?

Last Friday, Wheatland County declared a Municipal Agricultural Disaster due to the extended drought conditions that have been experienced. 

"Low growing season moisture compounded by extended periods of extreme heat, both of which have substantially depleted our soil moisture reserves have dealt a severe blow to all facets of agricultural production within Wheatland County," a County press release said.

Manager of Agriculture and Environment for Wheatland County George Bloom stated that declaring the agricultural disaster shows support to the producer and the farmers who are facing these current challenging conditions. 

"These declarations do not automatically trigger provincial or federal funding programs, but the County does run extension programs and learning opportunities throughout the years regarding best management practices. We will also promote anything by the Agricultural Financial Services Corporation (AFSC) to help farmers in the area as well." 

The AFSC provides farmers and Agri-businesses with loans, crop insurance, farm income, and disaster assistance. 

"There may not be a lot that can be done besides hoping for rain. It may make a difference and it may not. For some people, they are already planning for the future and AFSC does have some response tools for the whole farm, risk management to protect against large declines that threatened liabilities of farms that are outside the span of the producer's control."  

As for how bad this farming season is going to be, Bloom can't say because Wheatland County is very vast and spans almost 100 kilometers. Thus, there will be a variety of precipitation that will happen in many different parts. 

"Some producers will be experiencing much more distressing conditions than others, and the precipitation may be too little to make a noticeable difference in growing conditions now, but surely the whole community is feeling these dry conditions and understands that it's going to be challenging moving forward, no matter what comes from the weather."

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