MD of Greenview declares agricultural disaster

Dec 13, 2019 | 11:28 AM

The Municipal District of Greenview has declared an agricultural disaster due to wet and snowy conditions.

Reeve Dale Smith says a large percentage of the crop, consisting mainly of cereals and oilseeds, has been left on the fields.

“We’re estimating 30 per cent of our total farmable cropping acres are still out, unharvested. We’re feeling that’s creating an economic hardship for our local producers.”

He says farmers with cash crops aren’t the only ones suffering.

“Farmers that did put up hay, it was put out late, way into the fall and later than normal. The quality of that feed is low, so they’re going to have to add some kind of supplementation maybe. Lots of hay crops are still left on the fields because the ground isn’t frozen yet, in some places it’s starting to freeze if they haven’t got too much snow, but that part of the sector is struggling too.”

Smith says they will write letters to the provincial and federal governments, asking if there’s any programs or supports available that can assist local farmers over the winter.

Greenview joins the likes of neighbouring municipalities that declared an agricultural disaster earlier this fall, including the County of Grande Prairie, Saddle Hills County and Birch Hills County.

by Liam Verster