Leduc County asking ATVs to stay off crops as farmers struggle with harvest

Wet conditions and recreational-vehicle users are causing havoc for farmers in Leduc County.

The county said about half of the crops in the region have not been harvested because of an extremely wet growing season and ATVs are riding over and damaging the crops. So Leduc County has launched a Keep off the Crops campaign to raise awareness of the issue.

READ MORE: Bad harvest conditions hurting western Canadian farmers

“Many people are unaware that crops are still in field,” Leduc County director of agricultural services Garett Broadbent said.

“Normally, crops have been harvested by now and these issues don’t arise; however, this is a unique situation and we need people to be aware that crops are still being harvested and may stay in-field until the spring.”

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Leduc County is asking drivers to keep their ATVs on highways and ditches.

READ MORE: Alberta county declares state of agricultural disaster due to poor harvest

Earlier this week, Brazeau County, southwest of Edmonton, and Lac Ste. Anne County, northwest of Edmonton, declared a state of agricultural disaster due to the weather conditions.

“These extremely wet conditions over the past few months have resulted in very low crop yields across Brazeau County,” Brazeau County Reeve Bart Guyon said.

Many growers across the Prairies, specifically in Alberta and Saskatchewan, have been forced to put harvest on hold because of rain and snow in October.