Recent rain gives southern Alberta farmers optimism and new challenges

After a dry winter and spring, this latest dump of rain is a welcome sight for farmers.

It’s a game changer, especially for those working with dry land, renewing hope for big yields.

“We were in big, big trouble. And that basically got reversed in 48, 72 hours. We’re looking very good,” said Stephen Vandervalk, who farms outside Fort Macleod.

The amount of rain seen on farms across the region ranges widely.

Some saw a good, solid rain while others got more rain than they could easily handle.

“Just trying to bank up that moisture. We haven’t had the soil profile full in a long time. But it’s also hit and miss. We got about three to 3.5 inches in our area and on our farm. I know some guys; I have a friend south by Magrath who got 8.5 inches,” said Vandervalk.

All that rain does bring a new set of problems.

Many fields have started to pool with water, potentially losing valuable land.

In some areas, ditches were filled and bridges even washed away.

“Been farming out here for 40 years, and I’ve never seen this much rain at one time that fast. I’ve seen up to five inches at one time. But this is a big anomaly to get this much,” said Magrath farmer Gary Stanford.

In the long run, this rain event will be beneficial and help to recharge the atmosphere and ground water.

Even so, it can still be possible to have too much of a good thing.

“The level of ponding and saturation can do damage to crops. And in roots, in particular, they need oxygen, as well as water. So, if they have too much water, then there’s not enough room for oxygen. So, there could be some damage spread out here and there and in a lot of fields, and especially where you see ponding,” said Lethbridge Polytechnic research chair Willemijn Appels.