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UFA 0191 Calving 2012 AFE Earlug.indd 1 File Name: UFA 0191 Calving Earlug AFE 2012
12-01-09 10:43 AM
Project: Calving Campaign Image Area or Trim: 3.08” x 1.83” Publication: Alberta Farmer Express
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Lack of moisture worrisome for dryland crop farmers BONE DRY Some areas in the south have the smallest
accumulation of snow since scientists began keeping records in 1961 BY MADELEINE BAERG AF CONTRIBUTOR | CALGARY
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lthough much of the province is facing a record-low snowpack, Alberta farmers need not be too worried just yet, says a precipitation expert. “Winter’s not over,” said Ralph Wright, a soil moisture specialist with Alberta Agriculture. “We’ve still got February and March, and this could still turn around.” That said, it is dry out there. In some places, the snowpack is at its lowest level since Alberta weather scientists started keeping records in 1961. The problem isn’t just low pre-
cipitation but also uncommonly warm weather from October and mid-January. “Had it been colder, it would have looked a little better,” said Wright. “But that said, in the 90 days (before Jan. 15) measurement, we’ve seen precipitation ranging from at least one-in-six- to one-in-12year-lows, with several areas in east-central Alberta and across parts of southern Alberta that haven’t seen precipitation this low in 51 years.” The good news is that the 100 to 120 millimetres of precipitation that usually fall between October and March in these areas only accounts for 25 per
cent of the average annual total. “We’re certainly down quite a bit relative to normal,” said Wright. “But, it doesn’t take much to make that up. February is historically very dry, so don’t expect much for the coming month. But April to July, those are the months that will tell us everything.” To date, irrigated land looks in a better position. Snowpack across the Rockies is fairly average, said Kent Bullock, district manager for the Taber Irrigation District. “We’re anticipating we should have fairly normal river flows
SEE MOISTURE page 6
This map from Alberta Agriculture’s AgroClimatic Information Service (ACIS) shows that much of agricultural Alberta has been unusually dry since October.
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