LAC LA BICHE - A day after Lac La Biche County authorities removed the week-long State of Local Emergency set in motion by heavy rainfall and overland flooding, municipal councillors called a special meeting to put another emergency declaration in its place.
On Friday afternoon, Lac La Biche County fell under a State of Agricultural Disaster. The declaration was made at a special meeting of council called in response to a growing outcry from area farmers and producers.
"There have been so many calls I've taken from local producers," says Lac La Biche County councillor George L'Heureux, whose rural south-western ward is home to much of the municipality's farmland, "It's terrible."
Flooded fields, washouts and restrictions on axle weights on rural roads from a steady saturation of rain in the last three weeks have compounded an already challenging year for farmers — many who were still facing fields that hadn't been harvested last year due to poor late-season weather.
"This has been really bad for our agriculture guys. The percentage right now of seeded fields that are under water and the percentage that were not even harvested from last year — it is a disaster," said L'Heureux.
According to municipal data, five inches of rain fell in the first 10 days of June — 450 per cent more than the annual average.
L'Heureux says farmers can't get into saturated fields to do any work, and wet and damaged roads are affecting transportation of good and services to and from many rural areas.
The State of Agricultural Disaster — similar to proclamations made recently in Athabasca County, Lamont County and Thorhild County — doesn't result in immediate financial aid or support — but it does highlight the area's unique challenges.
"By proclaiming, we are on the radar of other levels of government," said L'Heureux, explaining that if relief funding does become available, or program are implemented to offer assistance for agricultural areas, this region would be recognized. "It is a statement to say that the county supports its producers."
The declaration will remain in effect until conditions improve.