Sturgeon County declares agricultural disaster

Sturgeon County is sounding the alarm for its farmers after record rainfall soaked the Edmonton region this summer. The county has declared an agricultural disaster as saturation raises concerns related to crop health, reduced yields, forage production, and long-term impacts to farm operations. "These conditions have substantially affected field access, delayed seeding and harvest activities, hindered crop development, and reduced overall agricultural productivity," the county said. Eric Chen of Peas on Earth told the St. Albert Gazette that the mud has made it difficult to harvest potatoes, and hay and grain farmer Tom Eppinga said he hasn't been able to harvest a single bale of hay.

Sturgeon County said the intent of the declaration is to bring attention to the challenges facing the agricultural community and support continued assessment of the impacts on producers. Specifically, the county hopes to communicate these concerns to provincial and federal decision-makers. There will be an information session for farmers to learn more about insurance and disaster assistance on Aug. 19 at Cardiff Community Hall.

The weather has also introduced challenges for agritourism operators. A Leduc County winery told Taproot that business has been slow, the Edmonton Corn Maze had its opening delayed for a few weeks, and several u-pick berry farms are behind. Those looking to check out the region's agriculture can attend Alberta Open Farm Days, which returns on Aug. 15 and 16 with more than 60 destinations to experience, including several in the Edmonton region. One option is the Barr Estate Winery in Sherwood Park, where one can see how fruit wine is made.