Dry conditions prompt Alberta county to declare agricultural disaster

Stettler County council hopes a disaster declaration prompts governments 'to advocate for assistance and support for an agriculture industry battling drought in Alberta.'

A very light snowpack, no run-off, an early and extended heat wave and no moisture forced the county of Stettler to declare an agricultural disaster on Wednesday.

“We’re seeing exceptionally large numbers of livestock being dispersed at auction marts for this time of year, and producers are contacting us to report they are out of feed, cannot afford feed and looking ahead and realizing at this point that the probability of growing feed to support their operations is very, very slim,” said Reeve Larry Clarke.

“Agriculture is a very big part of what we do here in Stettler County and of what fuels our economy and lives. We are hearing the pleas from our farmers and producers and we need to take action,” he said.

Councillors said recent moisture maps, current conditions, as well as empty dugouts and wetlands throughout the region support the serious declaration.

“The Alberta government has announced some pasture programs in light of the lack of pasture due to the wildfire situation in our province,” said Quinton Beaumont, manager of agricultural operations.

“While that is not a consideration in our area, we are seeing producers putting herds out into their hay fields, with no other options at hand beyond herd dispersals.”

Stettler council is using the disaster declaration to reach out to the provincial and federal governments “to advocate for assistance and support for an agriculture industry battling drought in Alberta,” the county said in a notice on its website.

The county said Stettler is the first municipality to declare an agricultural disaster in Alberta this year due to drought.