By Alex McCuaig

Strong industry

Record year for Alberta’s ag sector

Sep 30, 2020 | 4:00 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – The global COVID-19 pandemic may have thrown everything into the air but Alberta’s agriculture sector appears to have landed squarely on its feet with the province this week announcing an across the board record-breaking year.

Nearly a $27 billion year for crops, almost $7 billion for livestock and a record production of agri-food products amounting to a little less than $15 billion.

There were some rough spots for farmers in northern Alberta who saw early rains dampen fields as well as expectations for yields.

Supply-chain issues stemming from COVID-19 – including some of the largest outbreaks of the coronavirus hit in the country that hit beef processors – saw the system backed up in the spring.

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But Alberta Beef Producers chair Kelly Smith-Fraser, those backlogs are clearing up and the ag sector as a whole is having a year like few others.

“It’s a good story to actually know how strong our industry is right now,” said Smith-Fraser from her Pine Lake, Alta. ranch. “We have some good support there and I really think there is becoming a strong focus on agriculture becoming one of the key economic drivers here in Alberta.”

Premier Jason Kenney announced on Wednesday further support for the ag sector by putting resources towards expanding Alberta’s export market for the province’s agriculture products.