Alberta’s Major Crop Commissions Support AgriRecovery Program Assistance

Alberta’s Major Crop Commissions Support AgriRecovery Program Assistance

Michelle Pinon - News Advertiser

Alberta’s major crop commissions are showing their support for the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Devin Dreeshen who is advocating on their behalf in the wake of widespread drought conditions.

On July 15, Dreeshen brought forward the concerns of producers during the Federal, Provincial, Territorial Agriculture Ministers’ meeting.

Dreeshen stated, “With a federal election looming, Alberta received verbal commitment from Ottawa that a joint AgriRecovery program will be initiated to support Prairie producers affected by drought conditions prior to the election.”

While details of an AgriRecovery program are still being developed with industry Dreeshen pledged to work with both provincial and federal counterparts to ensure that Alberta’s farmers and ranchers are being supported.

“I have advised Alberta crop adjusters to be flexible and complete early assessments with affected crop and hay land. For example, offering alternative use of crops to address forecasted feed shortages in our livestock industry.”

John Mayko in one of his wheat crops

(Michelle Pinon/Photo)

Dreeshen noted that Alberta had dropped insurance premiums this year by 20 percent which allowed almost 400 additional farmers and ranchers to enrol in crop, pasture and forage insurance that protects against weather-related production loss.

He went on to say, “I want to assure producers across Alberta that we understand the severity of this prolonged period of extreme dry weather and we are doing everything we can to ensure you receive the support you need.”

John Mayko, who farms with his son between Andrew and Mundare, said it had been about six weeks since they had any precipitation. On July 16 he said they had 1/10th of an inch of rain, and precipitation has been quite localized and thunderstorms have been hit and miss in the area.

He has weathered many highs and lows in his 44 years of farming, and said the weather over the next week or two will be a determining factor in the overall quality of crops and the yields they will produce.

Moisture deprived wheat crop.

(Michelle Pinon/Photo)

Mayko and his son farm 2,200 acres and have planted field peas, oats, barley, canola and wheat this year. He said yield loss varies from crop to crop. There are several variables, some of which include: type and quality of soil, whether seeds are deep or shallow rooted, if they were seeded early or late, and the amount of extreme heat they have been subjected to over the past few weeks.

“Cooler days would help,” noted Mayko. He is hoping Mother Nature will provide some relief in the form of rain, but he knows all too well that weather is completely out of their control.

In the mean-time he said having the proper people will have to be in place to assess and process insurance claims is an important consideration. “There might be needs over and above that, and there is the possibility of an AgriRecovery Program.”