'From the brink of a disaster, to being okay’: Expert says drought no longer an issue in Alberta

Drought is no longer a problem for crops in Alberta and the Prairies this season, says a prominent grain expert, citing significant rain since mid June.The start of the season in March, April, May and the first part of June was dry with less-than-normal amounts of rain, impacting germination crops, including barley, wheat, canola and dry peas, said Jim Beusekom, trader and president of Market Place Commodities Ltd. in Lethbridge, in an interview with the Western Standard on Monday.“Alberta went from being on the brink of a disaster to being okay. It's not a problem right now,” Beusekom said."(Over the last 30 days,) there has been rainfall that's probably more in line with what we would normally get, maybe a little bit higher,” he said. “We are seeing the crops across Alberta, probably roughly about average.”.Alberta minister Loewen shares water rescue experience.The Alberta Crop Report reads that ratings for major crop conditions have improved by 5% the first week of July in the Central, North East, and North West regions.“Crops have responded to the precipitation and warm temperatures with significant growth while producers have responded by applying fungicides in some areas,” reads the report.The situation varies across the Prairies, according to Beusekom, who notes that the eastern side of Alberta was very dry at the beginning of the season compared to High River and Edmonton.“Corridor Highway 21 (and) Highway 36, most of it is fine. Highway 41, it'll have some dry areas,” he said.The Peace Country and Grand Prairie still have some dry areas in addition to the moist ones, he added..EXCLUSIVE: UCP members propose party vote on Alberta independence.When asked about the dry conditions and smoke in the areas affected by wildfires in the Prairies, Beusekom said the growing areas have not been affected.“And if we go over to our friendly neighbours in Saskatchewan, it would be a similar type of situation. There are 15-20% of the acres that are still very dry. The crops are past the point of recovery, but then there are lots of other areas that are average and maybe even above average,” he said.Though the risk of drought is no longer an issue in Alberta, the amount of rain is still below the average amount, which ranges between 300 millimetres to 1,270 mm per year. So far this year, Alberta has received half that amount. However, crops will still be fine even if the region stops seeing rain, Beusekom said.According to Environment Canada, the southern parts of Alberta received close-to-normal amounts of rain in June. The Calgary area received 94.4 mm of rain in June, the normal amount for the same month is 112.7 mm. Banff received an amount of 67.1 mm, slightly lower than the normal, which is 73.3 mm.However, some parts of northern Alberta were dry with High Level recording 25.6 mm, the ninth driest June on record, the normal amount is 54.6 mm. Fort McMurray received 37.7 mm, the 24th driest June on record, the normal amount is 78 mm, according to the weather agency..Political scientists say UCP members' demand to vote for Alberta independence ‘inevitable’.“It’s been a drier start for a lot of areas (in Alberta) for July,” said Environment Canada.The weather agency is forecasting an amount of 80 mm of rain by the end of Monday in the southern part of the province. The area has received an amount of 30 mm as of 12:00 p.m.More information about the conditions of crops in Alberta is available in the Alberta Crop Report.

'From the brink of a disaster, to being okay’: Expert says drought no longer an issue in Alberta

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