Grainswest - Spring 2022

Spring 2022 Grains West 18 hen drought hit western Canadian farms in 2021, it reinforced the truth that water is our most precious resource. The tremendous negative impact of this weather event begged the question: what if it happens again? The mid-2010s were relatively moist, but experts are now concerned about precipitation levels through the ’20s and beyond. Many predict fluctuation between periods of moisture and dryness, but that the Prairies will experience drier, hotter conditions on average. To put a finer point on the above question, what solutions can be devised to curb the resulting predicted water scarcity? To better envision the Prairie climate of the future, it’s important to understand its past. Stefan Kienzle, has done yeoman’s work to track and plot every single weather data point recorded between 1950 and 2017 across Alberta’s geography in 10-kilometre square chunks. A University of Lethbridge professor in the Department of Geography and Environment, he has created albertaclimaterecords.com , a highly useful interactive historical map. And what that documented history shows is clear. “The number of heatwaves has doubled to quadrupled in Alberta since the 1950s,” he said. “Most surprisingly, the cold spells have also doubled and quadrupled during the same period. That is a clear indication that the wild weather swings are much more extreme today than, say, 50, 60 years ago.” Kienzle pointed out a trend older farmers will have experienced firsthand, and that is the extension of Alberta’s growing season of between two to five weeks since the 1950s. Overall, the increased heat, regardless of precipitation levels, will impact agricultural production. “With temperatures over 30 C, crops stop growing or go into a dormant phase, and cattle are stressed just as we humans are,” said Kienzle. He added stressed animals produce less meat and milk and become more susceptible to disease. Kienzle noted dryland farmers don’t have a hope, while irrigated producers are left with a fighting chance if a period of dryness and heat persists. Even if you have access to irrigation, it’s not a get out of jail free card. The spinoff effects of continued drought are simply devastating, he said. “The first year, irrigated farmers still get their good yields, depending. If we have a second-year drought and reservoirs didn’t fill enough, maybe they have to reduce how much water is supplied and the second year may not get enough water to get yields. Add a third year of drought and the entire system collapses,” he said. “If the reservoirs don’t get refilled, that’s the end of it.” He pointed out the last three years skewed toward overall drought conditions rather than excess moisture and hay issues for cattle across the No easy answers for hard questions about moisture scarcity FEATURE BY TREVOR BACQUE • LEAD PHOTO BY PIXABAY