Despite an announcement by Alberta Agriculture and Forestry officials that crop yields across the province have hit "record highs" and livestock market sales are also higher than ever before, not all local farmers are part of that good news harvest.
"The best a lot up here can hope for is to break even," says Lac La Biche County councillor and area farmer George L'Heureux.
While he is pleased that provincial yields have done well, many localized parts of the province are still coping with a farming season that has been one of the worst on record.
"What's happening now is that the overall picture might look good throughout the province, but localized through different areas of the province — like us — well, canola is toast for example. It's been written-off in most areas around here," he said.
While the provincial announcement did include one paragraph that states "certain northern parts of the province" were affected by cool, wet weather with expected yields "below the five-year average," the main focus was on the projected seven percent increase in annual crop yields across the province and a record high $6.9 billion in livestock market sales.
Northern disaster
The tough year that saw many fields across the Lakeland flooded by steady rainfall through the summer forced L'Heureux and Lac La Biche County councillors to declare a State of Agricultural Emergency. The declaration remains in place.
"We are still in a disaster area ... there's big bald spots in fields where nothing has grown," he explained, adding that what has grown is frustration and worry based on reduced yields and reduced income.
"I just baled 200 acres of oat straw, and got 121 bales. It should've been 600-800 bales," he said, explaining that with an average bale fetching $60, the poor harvest has severely impacted that part of his own farming operation.
He's also heard stories from regional farmers about flooded fields that couldn't be seeded, poor quality crops and thinned out crops.
"One guy I know told me it's the first time ever that he's swathed canola where he could look down and see the knife of the swather," L'Heureux said, explaining that there are hundreds of similar stories throughout the region.
Despite the losses — and seeing the province promoting overall exceptional harvests — L'Heureux says most farmers do feel support from the provincial government is encouraging.
"They have reimbursed the hail insurance on failed crops ... and they are looking at margin-based insurance," said L'Heureux. "The Alberta government is also in talks with the western provinces to come up with better risk management programs."
Tough work
In his announcement last week about the record harvests, Alberta Agriculture and Forestry Minister Devin Dreeshen acknowledged the challenges faced by northeastern farmers this year, saying it is part of a resiliency that powers the agricultural industry through tough times.
"Alberta has a proud history of resilient, innovative farmers, food processors and ranchers who have overcome some of the toughest conditions," Dreeshen noted. "From our world-famous Alberta beef to high-quality hard red spring wheat, Alberta’s agriculture sector is an economic highlight during these tough times... regardless of the challenges thrown at our farmers and ranchers, they will persevere.”
L'Heureux echoed those sentiments, saying farmers are looking to next year's seeding season, hoping for more cooperation from Mother Nature.
According to the provincial government, Alberta's agri-food sector contributes $9.2 billion in gross domestic product and employs 77,000 Albertans.
