Final Alberta crop report shows better than average yields for southern Alberta farmers
According to the last Alberta crop report of 2024, 99.9 percent of crops in the south region have been harvested.
All that's left to come out of the ground are pockets of canola, flax and sugar beets.
Despite pessimism heading into the growing season, farmers were pleasantly surprised with the amount of rain they got.
"This spring, we were rationed with irrigation water, so it was very concerning for us," said Gary Stanford, who farms outside Magrath.
"Then when we received a lot of rain, (which helped) relieve the pressure on the irrigation system."
While dry land crop suffered in the July and August heat, major crop yields in the south region were up 12.4 per cent compared to the five-year average.
"The July heat kind of hurt some of the crops, especially the canola," Stanford said. "So the dry land would be a little below average, but in this area here overall, I would say we're happy with the yields that we received this year."
As this harvest season draws to a close, attention is shifting to next year.
Farmers are hoping for a cold and snowy winter to help refill reservoirs.
With a La Niña winter on the way, it makes a wet winter more likely.
"That gives us a little bit more of something to hang onto when it comes to our seasonal forecasts," said Alysa Pederson, a warning preparedness meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada.
The Farmer’s Almanac is also predicting a cold and snowy winter.
It's giving some producers hope that next growing season.
"We were all pleasantly surprised that the Farmer's Almanac said it was going to be colder and more snow. and that's actually really good for farmers. It helps to get rid of some of the bugs that are in the soil. and also it helps us, get some more moisture," said Stanford.
The Oldman reservoir is currently 60 per cent full, which is just below normal range for this time of year.
The St. Mary and Waterton reservoirs are both within their normal ranges.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canada's response to Trump deportation plan a key focus of revived cabinet committee
U.S. president-elect Donald Trump's promise to launch a mass deportation of millions of undocumented people has the Canadian government looking at its own border.
Who should lead the Liberals? 'None of the above,' poll finds
As questions loom over Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s leadership, a new Nanos Research poll commissioned for CTV News says a quarter of Canadians say none of the potential candidates appeal to them.
New technology solves mystery of late First World War soldier's flower sent home to Canada
In 1916, Harold Wrong plucked a flower from the fields of Somme, France and tucked it into a letter he mailed home to Toronto. For decades, the type of flower sent remained a mystery.
U.S. election maps: How did 2024 compare to 2020 and 2016?
Though two states have yet to be officially called, the U.S. election map has mostly been settled. How does it compare with the previous two elections?
Canada rent report: What landlords are asking tenants to pay
Average asking rents declined nationally on a year-over-year basis for the first time in more than three years in October, said a report out Thursday.
N.S. school 'deeply sorry' for asking service members not to wear uniforms at Remembrance Day ceremony
An elementary school in the Halifax area has backed away from a request that service members not wear uniforms to the school's Remembrance Day ceremony.
Remembrance Day: What's open and closed in Canada?
While banks and post offices will be closed nationwide on Remembrance Day, shops and businesses could be open depending on where you live in Canada.
Judicial recount for Surrey-Guildford confirms B.C. NDP's majority
The B.C. New Democrats have a majority government of 47 seats after a judicial recount in the riding of Surrey-Guildford gave the party's candidate 22 more votes than the provincial Conservatives.
48,584 space heaters recalled in Canada after burn injury in U.S.
Health Canada has announced a recall for electric space heaters over potential fire and burn risks, a notice published Thursday reads.