MD of Bonnyville – Following recommendations from the General Manager of Environmental and Protective Services, Council has declared a state of Municipal Agricultural Disaster due to persistent heavy rainfall in the Municipal District of Bonnyville.

Throughout this growing season, sustained rainfall across the M.D. of Bonnyville has accumulated 22.68 inches of precipitation. The continued volume and frequency of rainfall have created significant challenges for agricultural producers across the municipality.

The impacts have been widespread. Saturated ground conditions, flooding and prolonged wet weather have damaged agricultural land. Many agricultural producers are dealing with flooded or unseeded fields, delayed crop development, increased disease pressure and reduced access to land due to saturated conditions. Pasture and hay production have also been affected, limiting feed availability and creating added challenges for livestock producers.

As wet weather persists, producers continue to face rising input costs, delayed crop and forage development and uncertainty around yields and feed supplies. While the full financial impact remains unknown, the M.D. of Bonnyville recognizes that many farm families are facing significant economic pressure as a result of this year’s growing conditions.

This declaration communicates the serious agricultural conditions to the Government of Alberta and supports consideration of available provincial and federal agricultural risk management programs.