Unseasonably warm temperatures and little precipitation have both positive and negative affects on the agricultural industry in the area.
For Ray and Brenda Pereversoff of the Water Valley Forest Nursery, the warm forecast means they are about three weeks ahead of schedule. The couple runs a nursery of roughly one million seedlings and a greenhouse operation spanning roughly an acre in size.
“Seedlings need all the basic requirements – water, sun, and nutrients. We are a sheltered crop so we can control the climate a lot better inside the greenhouse … we’re good for water at the moment but we are having difficulties keeping things cool,” Ray explained.
For the Pereversoffs, their growing season starts in January with their crops harvested by June.
“We’ve had to alter some of our growing regime because of the outside temperatures … We’re used to having cooler nights as well for hardening but we’ve been able to draught-stress to get them prepared better,” Ray explained.
What’s concerning the Pereversoffs is the lack of precipitation currently as eventually their seedlings will be moved outside of the greenhouse.
“The warmth helps for the crops in the greenhouse but we’re a little concerned about the drought when the seedlings get planted since they’ll obviously need moisture … we can get them to the stage where they’re ready to be out and planted but then we have no control,” Ray said.
Brenda handles the bedding plants (home gardening plants) side of the business and has the weather to thank for how well they’re doing.
“The busyness that we’re experience now, usually happens about three weeks later,” Brenda explained.
People are already purchasing their home gardening plants but the Pereversoffs warn they need to be ready for anything.
“People are eager to get out and start their gardening but we’re trying to temper it,” Ray explained.
“It is Alberta, and anything can happen yet … We’re cautioning people to be prepared to cover them until the long weekend of May for sure,” Brenda added.
Despite the adjustments they’ve had to make, both are looking forward to another successful season.
John Copithorne, owner of a local cow/calf operation, is happy with the warmer weather so far this season but is also worried about how little precipitation there’s been.
“What really affects us is the weather. Right now we’re in a real dry spell and that could affect water supply to the pastures and how much grass is available for grazing. So right now on every cattle producers’ minds is if they’ll have enough grass to get through,” Copithorne said.
“If you don’t have grass or water then you have to find some pastures that do. Or else if you have to sell your cattle off prematurely and that’s at a discount,” he added.
His operation is well into the calving portion of the season and will soon be starting to transition from feeding the cows to having them graze.
“We’re getting ready to get all our fertilizer on and getting our cereal crops prepared to seed … Then around the first of June when the calving is all done we have to start branding,” Copithorne explained.
Despite the dry conditions, he anticipates a good year overall for the cattle industry.
“Overall the cattle industry doesn’t look too bad, we’ve came off with two really good years here. It’s going to be above probably a 10-year average for a cow/calf producer,” Copithorne said.
