Southern Alberta farmers optimistic after recent rainfall
After a dry winter, southern Alberta farmers were expecting it to be another tough growing season.
But recent rainfall is offering hope this year could be different.
For two days much of southern Alberta was hit with a heavy rainstorm.
Some areas such as Magrath managed to get about three and a half inches of precipitation over the course of the storm.
That was a potential game-changer for some farmers.
“We're feeling a lot better," said Sean Stanford, who farms near Magrath. "We're feeling relieved. It was a good storm, lots of moisture dropped. Different amounts through southern Alberta, but we were pretty fortunate in my area we got a fair bit of rain. It's really going to help the crops this year."
Big change
The recent storm marks a big change from previous years.
Last year Magrath only saw about three inches of rain throughout the entire growing season.
The wet start to the 2024 growing season has farmers in the region feeling optimistic.
Stanford said “It's great news. Everybody's pretty excited and upbeat about it. There's still guys that are seeding and trying to get into the field and things like that. But most people have some crops in the ground already so it's going to be great for those.”
Some areas weren't as lucky.
Fort MacLeod and Claresholm only saw about an inch and a half of rain.
But after such a dry winter, any moisture is welcome.
“It's wet out there," said Stephen Vandervalk who farms outside Fort Macleod. "We won't be able to seed for a couple days. Nothing like Medicine Hat and those areas three or four inches in areas, but it's obviously huge.
"We needed the rain," he added. "(It) might make the seeding difficult but in the long run, it's fantastic (news)."
More rain needed
Farmers aren't out of the woods just yet.
While this rain helps, more will be needed through out the growing season to make up for reduced irrigation allocations.
That said, the prognosis is hopeful and the forecast promising.
“We're going to need a lot more going forward, but it's a huge start," Vandervalk said. "We haven't seen a rain like that since 2020 and then four or five years before that.”
More rain could be on the way.
Long-term forecasts from environment and climate change Canada are predicting the Lethbridge region could have average to above-average rainfall in May and June.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Bathroom break nearly derails $22 million project at city council meeting
A brief break during Wednesday's city council meeting in Saskatoon nearly cost the city dearly.
Do this once a month and extend your life by up to 10 years. No gym required
Research shows that art experiences, whether as a maker or a beholder, transform our biology by rewiring our brains and triggering the release of neurochemicals, hormones and endorphins.
Mackenzie Hughes 'gutted' after falling short at RBC Canadian Open
Mackenzie Hughes had the dream scenario of winning the RBC Canadian Open in his hometown within reach but then it all slipped away.
Motorcycle doing wheelies, weaving in, out of traffic caught on Highway 417
A motorcycle driver is facing charges after being caught on Highway 417 doing wheelies and weaving in and out of traffic, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) says.
Oilers advance to Stanley Cup final by beating Stars in Game 6
The Edmonton Oilers rode their special teams and goaltender to victory on Sunday, beating the Dallas Stars 2-1 to win the National Hockey League's Western Conference and earn a berth in the Stanley Cup final against the Florida Panthers.
'Rotten rock': Climate change altering the face of Canadian mountaineering
The Abbot Pass hut stood for decades in a rugged saddle between two iconic peaks, overlooking the limpid turquoise of Banff National Park's Lake Louise — a destination for alpinists from around the world until the ground melted beneath it and forced its closure.
North Korea says it will stop sending trash balloons as South Korea vows strong retaliation
South Korea said Sunday it’ll soon take retaliatory steps against North Korea over its launch of trash-carrying balloons across the border and other provocations.
'The legacy I want to leave:' Mother with Stage 4 cancer advocates for survivors
People around the world are observing National Cancer Survivor Day, an annual celebration held to honour patients who have been through the often difficult and traumatic experience of living with cancer.
Driver missing after vehicle plunges into the Riviere-des-Prairies between Montreal and Laval
Emergency response crews are on the scene Sunday morning after a vehicle plunged into the Riviere des Prairies in Montreal.