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By Chris Brown

Up to higher governments to provide relief

Declaration of agricultural disaster on Cypress County agenda next week

Jul 16, 2021 | 12:12 PM

DUNMORE, AB – Scorching temperatures and very little rain have many in rural Alberta asking for help from government.

A declaration of agricultural disaster is on the agenda for Cypress County’s council meeting on Tuesday.

According to the agenda posted on the county’s website, a recommendation will be made to council to “declare a Local State of Agricultural Disaster, due to drought conditions, and to direct Administration to inform the Federal and Provincial Ministers of Agriculture of the declaration.”

Declaring an agricultural disaster raises awareness of the conditions and hardships faced by the agriculture industry and shows support. But it is up to the federal or provincial governments whether to provide any type of disaster assistance, relief funding or other programs for producers.

Cypress County previously declared a Local State of Agricultural Disaster in 2015. Agricultural Services Board officials say similar conditions exist now due to the recent heat wave and lack of precipitation in June and July.

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READ MORE: Drought devastates pastures across prairie provinces

Alberta Agriculture Minister Devin Dreeshen said this week details of an AgriRecovery program are being developed with industry and agriculture ministers.

Crop conditions in southern Alberta are well below normal according to the latest Alberta Crop Report dated June 28.

Just 48.9 per cent of all crops are rated “good” or “excellent” this year. That’s far from the five-year average of 71.8 per cent and the 10-year average of 74.6 per cent.

As well, the crop report says surface soil moisture ratings decreased by four points over the last week to 19 per cent rated good or excellent. Subsurface soil moisture decreased by six points over last week to 23 per cent rating good or excellent.