EDMONTON Although the province isn t declaring official drought conditions yet, early estimates are that agricultural write-offs could be the highest they ve been in a decade. We started with a lot of moisture so we re in better shape, John Guelly told CTV News Edmonton. Expecting 75 to 80 per cent of his usual yield, the Westlock canola farmer considers himself one of the lucky ones this season. You only have to go 15, 20 miles from here and people are talking about turning their cows into it as soon as crop insurance comes because there s just nothing there. There s not even enough to make a bale or a crop up for animals or anything. It s terrible.
Article content
Spring seeding is ahead of schedule and grain and oilseed prices are red hot, but dry conditions around the province have some Alberta farmers worried.
On his farm near Taber, Jason Saunders is nearly done planting this year’s crop. A shortage of snowfall this winter allowed him to get onto his fields earlier than normal, but that same lack of precipitation means Saunders now has reason to be concerned.
We apologize, but this video has failed to load.
Try refreshing your browser, or As grain prices boom, farmers pray for rain Back to video
“We are not wet at all, and we haven’t had much rain this spring,” Saunders said. “My total accumulation for April-May is probably half an inch.”
Article content
Alberta beekeepers are sounding the alarm about the dangerously low supply of honeybees due to delayed or cancelled imports of the insects to the province.
With the pandemic making it impossible to import bees last year and significant loss over the cold winter, Alberta hive numbers have plummeted by more than 20,000 and resulted in a 30 per cent reduction in honey production in 2020. Beekeepers were hopeful imported packages of bees from Australia and New Zealand this spring would bolster the population, but ongoing shipping and inspection delays have them worried.
We apologize, but this video has failed to load.
Article content
Alberta farmers have watched in surprise and delight in recent weeks as skyrocketing global demand for canola has pushed prices of the Canadian oilseed to levels not seen in more than a decade.
“Prices have gone crazy, to be honest. I wouldn’t have dreamed this in a million years,” said Kevin Serfas, who farms in the Lethbridge area near Turin. “It’s been a bit of a shot in the arm for farmers, for sure.”
We apologize, but this video has failed to load.
Try refreshing your browser. Canola farmers rejoice as global demand pushes prices to 13-year high Back to video
Article content
Alberta farmers have watched in surprise and delight in recent weeks as skyrocketing global demand for canola has pushed prices of the Canadian oilseed to levels not seen in more than a decade.
“Prices have gone crazy, to be honest. I wouldn’t have dreamed this in a million years,” said Kevin Serfas, who farms in the Lethbridge area near Turin. “It’s been a bit of a shot in the arm for farmers, for sure.”
We apologize, but this video has failed to load.
Try refreshing your browser, or Like winning the lottery : Canola farmers rejoice as global demand pushes prices to 13-year high Back to video