Yellowhead and Westlock counties latest to declare States of Agricultural Disaster

EDMONTON — Yellowhead County and Westlock County joined the growing list Tuesday of Alberta municipalities to declare a State of Agricultural Disaster.

The decision was made by Yellowhead County Council during a meeting on Tuesday. Officials said the county has received less than 10 millimetres of rain since June 1, and the moisture levels in some areas are the driest they’ve been in 25 years.

“The east side of the county has been hardest hit,” County Council said in its request for the decision. “Due to these conditions, crop yields are down significantly with approximately 70 per cent of grain crops, hay and pasture in fair to poor condition, with canola being hardest hit. Pasture lands are being depleted as conditions are not conducive to regrowth.

“Declaring an Agricultural Disaster in a municipality can increase awareness throughout the county as well as draw attention to the ramifications that a lack of moisture, extreme heat and pest infestations has on crop and livestock producers.”

Westlock County announced Tuesday it also declared a State of Agricultural Disaster “in an effort to show solidarity with Alberta farmers.”

In a news release from the county, Reeve Bud Massey urged provincial and federal government officials to “initiate necessary disaster recovery programs which would provide assistance to our agricultural producers.”

So far this summer, Thorhild County, Leduc County, Brazeau County, Sturgeon County, Parkland County, McKenzie County, Lac Ste. Anne County and Smoky Lake County have all declared States of Agricultural Disaster.

READ MORE: More Alberta counties declare Agricultural Disasters

To make matters worse, most of these areas are also dealing with severe pest infestations, as grasshoppers have become a problem for farmlands across Alberta.

READ MORE: Grasshoppers taking over in parts of Alberta farmland

The federal government encourages producers to consider possible assistance from Business Risk Management programs. The government calls Agrilnsurance the first line of response for producers dealing with weather-related damages to their crops.

“Significant enhancements have been made to the AgriInsurance coverage offered to producers in recent years, including improved forage insurance,” said James Watson, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

The government also encourages producers facing cash-flow challenges to apply to the federal Advance Payments Program to access loans of up to $400,000.