Southern Alberta crop near Medicine Hat July, 15 2021/Chat News photo (courtesy Derek Brade)

By Chantal Wagner

hoping for rain

Farmers and ranchers facing dry agricultural conditions

Jul 15, 2021 | 2:24 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – There has been little to no rain over the last month, temperatures are in the high 30’s and heat warnings continue throughout the province; making for dry agricultural conditions for farmers and ranchers.

Darren Lutz with Medicine Hat Feeding Company says drought and pastures right now are ‘terrible’ in capital letters.

He says hay is a disaster and feed is going to be the issue to a point where there might not be enough for all the cattle.

Lutz adds usually when there’s drought it’s regional, so if there’s not enough feed, they can buy from western Alberta or Saskatchewan but they are also dried out.

In some areas, cattle are going to slaughter sooner and calves are going to feedlots about 3-4 months too early.

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“I’ve seen cattle turned in on crops two weeks ago already. This is as bad it’s been around here for decades. I’m not sure the water is going to be the issue, it might be for some people. But the hay is a disaster and the feed is going to be the issue.”

Lutz hopes for rain and expects record price for hay, adding that fields are going to be grazed out for next year.

Alberta Agriculture Minister Devin Dreeshen says he will urge the federal government to recognize the hardships faced by producers and push for an AgriRecovery initiative.