June rains soak southern Alberta farms and fields
Heavy precipitation fills reservoirs and delays planting across the region. Producers now waiting for heat to boost crop growth.
The day's top stories, food & events — every morning at 7. Unsubscribe anytime.
Southern Alberta is soaked. Heavy rain across the region in May and June has surpassed annual averages in Brooks and Medicine Hat, filling reservoirs and leaving fields too muddy for planting or spraying.
Pat Kunz, a retired farmer who camped through the province in June, said the landscape was entirely green — a rare sight in the semi-arid southeast. "On the whole trip, everything was green," Kunz said. "Still, I'm sure some guys [who are farming] are saying, 'Enough already.'"
Irrigation demand has stalled as a result. Ivan Friesen, general manager of the Eastern Irrigation District near Brooks, said the heavy rain is welcome despite localized flooding for some producers. The district has stopped drawing water from the Bow River to off-stream reservoirs because they're already full. "The [reservoir] level should maintain at constant," Friesen said. "We expect as irrigation demand does increase in July and August that we'll be able to bring those levels back down to the normal winter level."
Reservoirs across the region are well-stocked: the Bow River system sits at 74 per cent capacity, while the Oldman and South Saskatchewan systems are above 95 per cent. The province activated the Springbank dry dam west of Calgary and the Horsefly spillway near Taber to manage high water flows.
What's needed now is sunshine and heat. Alberta's latest crop report states that soil moisture is at good to excellent levels across much of the province — but warmth is essential for crops to grow. The deluge follows a wet spring in 2025 that gave way to damaging dry heat, leaving farmers hoping this year's moisture translates to a stronger harvest.
