'Needed a rebound year': Alberta farmers say extreme heat nowhere near as bad as 2021 heat dome
Farmers in the province say while the heat warning over much of southern Alberta is concerning, it’s nowhere near as bad as last summer’s heat dome.
Ian Chitwood farms near Airdrie and grows wheat, barley, canola and feed for livestock.
This year’s crops came at a high price after last year’s drought.
“This is the most expensive crop we’ve planted on the Canadian Prairies and, you know, we really needed a rebound year,” said Chitwood, who is also the vice-chair of the Alberta Canola Producers Commission.
Chitwood said the extreme heat in parts of southern Alberta is causing crops to rapidly grow, bringing harvest on faster this year.
He said since farmers in the Calgary area got lots of moisture early in the season, the heat now is less of a blow.
“We’ll try and manage our risk and exposure, but it’s really nice to have a year where, you know, in the face of the high costs that we had, being able to look at a fall where we have relatively high prices and a good crop,” he told CTV News.
Chitwood said his crops are past the point of needing rain, but other farmers might not be so lucky.
“Those crops that are still in the green filling stage and are still looking to mature and still developing that yield, this heat can be impactful to that,” said Jeremy Boychyn, agronomy research extension specialist with the Alberta Wheat and Barley Commissions.
“As we get further away from that time, closer to harvest time, it’s going to have less and less of an impact on that yield.”
Ralph Wright with the Alberta Climate Information Service says it’s seeing a trend towards drier conditions over the last 30 days in about half of southern Alberta, with temperatures near or in the 30 C range.
“It is on the high side of, you know, what we’ve been seeing, but it is certainly not in the exceptional record type territory that we saw in 2021,” he said.
However, Wright said the effect it will have on crops has yet to be seen.
“All in all, things are looking pretty good, but the season’s not over yet,” he said.
“There’s a lot of eyes on this situation and it’s tracked very closely.”
Mackenzie Blyth, press secretary to Alberta’s Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Rural Economic Development, said the ministry monitors agricultural weather impacts closely and is in regular contact with those in the farming and ranching communities.
It also puts out the Alberta Crop Report during the growing season with up-to-date information on crop progress and harvest.
“We are aware producers have experienced weather-related crop losses this growing season. Farmers face a variety of challenges every year, and the past few growing seasons are no exception,” Blyth said.
“We continue to support our producers through business risk management programs as the sector continues to contribute to Alberta’s economic recovery, growth and diversification.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.
Ontario Provincial Police arrest 64 suspects in child sexual exploitation investigation
Ontario Provincial Police say 64 suspects are facing a combined 348 charges in connection with a series of child sexual exploitation investigations that spanned the province.
'Summer of discontent': Federal unions vow to fight new 3-day a week office mandate
Federal unions are launching legal challenges and encouraging public sector workers to file "tens of thousands" of grievances over the new mandate requiring federal workers to return to the office at least three days a week in the fall.
Watch fighter jet pilots pummel fake enemy ship off coast of Philippines
The United States and Philippines held annual joint-training drills just off the Southeast Asian nation’s western coast on Wednesday. Military forces sunk a 'mock' enemy warship – the BRP Lake Caliraya, which was a decommissioned tanker made in China.
'Ozempic babies': Reports of surprise pregnancies raise new questions about weight loss drugs
Numerous women have shared stories of 'Ozempic babies' on social media. But the joy some experience in discovering pregnancies may come with anxiety about the unknowns.
OPINION What King Charles' schedule being too 'full' to accommodate son suggests
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has made headlines with his recent arrival in the U.K., this time to celebrate all things Invictus. But upon the prince landing in the U.K., we have already had confirmation that King Charles III won't have time to see his youngest son during his brief visit.
'I killed four people': Trial hears video evidence of Jeremy Skibicki at Winnipeg trial
“I killed four people,” alleged serial killer Jeremy Skibicki told two homicide detectives during a recorded interview played as evidence in his trial Wednesday.
AstraZeneca says it will withdraw COVID-19 vaccine globally as demand dips
AstraZeneca said on Tuesday it had initiated the worldwide withdrawal of its COVID-19 vaccine due to a 'surplus of available updated vaccines' since the pandemic.
Seafood, eat food: Calgary Stampede releases Midway menu
The Calgary Stampede has released its menu of sweet, salty and spicy treats available on the Midway for the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.