Leduc County declares Municipal State of Agricultural Disaster

Leduc County council declared a Municipal State of Agricultural Disaster at its special council meeting this morning, in response to excessive moisture and weather conditions negatively impacting local producers.

As a council, we recognize the extreme conditions our farmers are facing. The amount of precipitation we received in May alone is more than double the long-term average, and parts of our county have broken a 55-year record for spring precipitation. This has lead to more than 220 quarter sections not being seeded and many crops in distress. It’s our hope that making this declaration will bring awareness to the issue and encourage other levels of government to provide support where possible.

Tanni Doblanko, mayor of Leduc County

From May 1 to July 9, precipitation recorded at four weather stations within Leduc County indicated at least 100 mm more rain than the long-term average for that time period.

Producers are rightfully concerned. Even with crops that are doing well right now, such as hay crops, farmers aren’t able to get onto their fields to cut or bale because the ground is too saturated for heavy equipment. If this wet weather continues, many of the crops that are in fair condition will degrade in quality as well.

Aaron Van Beers, manager of Agricultural Services

As of July 9, approximately 65 per cent of barley crops, 50 per cent of canola crops and 35 per cent of wheat crops were estimated to be in poor condition in Leduc County. Poor crop conditions are defined as fields with less than 60 per cent of healthy plants.

An Agricultural State of Disaster can bring awareness to residents, industry, and provincial and federal governments, and facilitate collaboration with impacted groups.

Leduc County last declared a State of Agricultural Disaster in September 2019.