Hay field near Dunvegan, photo courtesy Erika Rolling

By Erika Rolling

Agriculture

Crops in County OK after intense hail and wind storms on August long weekend

Aug 8, 2022 | 10:47 AM

After a less than pleasant August long weekend (July 29-August 1) in the Peace Region, which brought rain, hail, gale force winds, and a possible tornado… crops are looking to be average this year according to the County of Grande Prairie Agricultural Services Board Chair Bob Chrenek.

Chrenek says farmers in the Grande Prairie region should consider themselves lucky and fortunate.

“From what I understand from everybody that I’ve spoke to and throughout the community and the local area around Grande Prairie, Sexsmith and Beaverlodge there were pockets of hail that didn’t seem do a lot damage.”

He says most of the crop damage was done farther north in the Spirit River and Wanham areas and didn’t discriminate on which crops were hit.

“Some are saying ten per-cent crop damage or less, if any,” Chrenek says what has been reported by producers in the County of GP.

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“The rain came at a very opportunistic time because we are sitting here looking at another week or two… and the crops would have taken a really devastating turn.”

He says he is looking forward, as well as other producers to some warmth to speed up the crops.

“At this stage, the crops are looking pretty good for what had been taking place before the rain.”

On the note of hay, 2021 had a severely devastating situation in the prairie provinces including the Peace and the ASB Chair says from what he’s seen and heard from hay producers, “it will be in good supply.”

“I hope everyone has a successful harvest and fall, everybody got their hay off in good condition. Going forward our communities fair well this year,” he says.