M.D. of Willow Creek declares agriculture disaster

By Rob Vogt, Local Press Writer
The Municipal District of Willow Creek has declared an agriculture disaster, with drought conditions worsening and reducing crop yields.
At its July 28 meeting, M.D. council was advised by Chief Administrative Officer Derrick Krizsan that the idea was before council because some interest had been expressed in discussing it.
Reeve Maryanne Sandberg said the declaration does nothing.
“There’s no legal weight to it whatsoever,” she said.
She also noted AgriRecovery, a joint federal-provincial program, is already looking at it.
“I don’t know what we should be doing as an M.D.,” Sandberg said.
“What can we do?” added Coun. John Van Driesten.
Coun. Glen Alm said it lets the ratepayers know council understands that it is a problem, and shows council is doing everything it possibly can.
Coun. Ian Sundquist said the M.D. is already included in the federal map of affected areas.
He also had trouble with the word “disaster” because this is a drought, not a disaster.
A declaration would not get the M.D. any advantage.
Sandberg asked Krizsan how many ratepayers asked for the declaration, and he replied about a handful.
Van Driesten said this year is a reality check for farming dry land, where they count on rain.
Coun. Evan Berger said the declaration is essentially a title assigned ro what is happening.
He observed some good crops and some bad crops in the M.D., and noted this year’s conditions are something producers go through every few years.
He said it was definitely a problem but hopefully everyone carried some form of insurance.
“I don’t see any downside in declaring an agriculture disaster,” Alm said, adding the upside is showing the ratepayers they are doing something.
Sundquist said there are programs in place for producers to put aside money for years such as this, and he could not see declaring a disaster when this is not one.
Coun. Darry Markle said disaster implies crop failure.
“There’s still crop out there,” he said.
However, he added declaring an agriculture disaster informs the general public there is a problem.
Sandberg said bad crops are spotty, and wondered if you declared a disaster in all of the M.D. or just parts of it.
She then asked what the agricultural fieldman’s recommendation is.
Krizsan said there could be approaching 50 per cent of crops rated poor which, according to the Rural Municipalities of Alberta, is the threshold for a disaster or emergency.
Sandberg said the Counties of Foothills and Vulcan, who neighbour the M.D., have declared an agriculture disaster.
Markle said no one was actually asking for anything.
“It’s just a declaration,” he said, indicating that things are bad now.
Council then agreed to declare an agriculture disaster with everyone voting in favour except Sundquist and Van Driesten who were opposed.