An arctic high might leave farmers feeling low this week as frost bites into their fields of wheat.
Night-time temperatures should dip below zero throughout St. Albert and Sturgeon County during the next two weeks, say local meteorologists, which could cause frost damage to some crops.
The cause is a large mass of cold arctic air, an arctic high, that’s heading right for us, says Nick Nimchuk, fire weather meteorologist with Alberta Sustainable Resource Development. “It could be – 3 C or – 5 C by Friday morning.”
First frost usually falls sometime between Sept. 11 and 20, according to Alberta Agriculture. Last year’s frost fell exceptionally late, resulting in an extra-long growing season.
Most canola farmers have finished swathing by now, says Robert Tappauf, who farms west of St. Albert, but many wheat growers have yet to even start. “The moisture’s way too high,” he says. “The field’s getting so wet that we have problems even getting into the fields.”
Frosty weather would lower the grade of most wheat, Tappauf says, meaning it will have to be sold as animal feed instead of food. He was more worried about the rain delays — it’s been so wet that his barley has begun to sprout. “If the weather continues like this, we could even be harvesting next spring!” he jokes.
Henry Vos says he’s once again throwing his hat into the ring to get a seat on the Canadian Wheat Board — just as soon as he finishes his harvest.
The Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) kicked off elections for the directors of districts 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 on Sept. 7.
The CWB holds elections every two years, alternating between even- and odd-numbered districts, picking five directors at a time for four-year terms. St. Albert and Sturgeon County are in District 1, currently represented by Henry Vos.
Any farmer who sold grain to the CWB during any of the last three years should get a note in the mail this week to confirm their voting information, Vos says. This is different from the last election, he notes, where you had to have sold to the board in one of the last two years to qualify for a ballot. “If they don’t get a note, they should call in and request to be put on the voter’s list.”
Vos hasn’t submitted his nomination papers yet, but says he’ll once again run for election in District 1. “I’ve enjoyed my time there in the last four years, and I think I’ve made a difference for farmers in northern Alberta.”
Vos, who farms about 1,011 hectares near Fairview, says he wanted to make the board more transparent in how it sets its prices and more flexible about its grain delivery deadlines. He planned to submit his papers and start campaigning after he’d finished his harvest.
Also running for re-election are District 5’s Allen Oberg and District 7’s Kyle Korneychuk. Larry Hill of District 3 and William Nicholson of District 9 have hit their term limit and are not eligible to run again.
Every board election is important, says Oberg, chair of the CWB, as they shape the future of the organization. Eight of the current 10 elected directors support the board’s single-desk system, for example, and this election could change that balance.
Oberg says he hopes the federal government will stay out of this year’s elections, noting how MPs had sent letters on government stationery to voters endorsing certain candidates in the past. “Let democracy work and let farmers decide.”
Candidates must have their nomination papers into the elections coordinator by Oct. 15. Voters have until Nov. 19 to apply for a ballot, and will get their ballots by Oct. 26 at the earliest. Election results will be announced Dec. 12.
For details on the election, call 1-877-780-VOTE (8683) or visit www.cwbelection.com.
