After monitoring crop conditions, on August 12, 2025, Thorhild County Council officially declared a State of Agricultural Disaster due to low precipitation affecting crops, hay, and pastures throughout the County.

Thorhild County has been assessing crop conditions following the Rural Municipalities of Alberta (RMA) Guide for Declaring Municipal Agricultural Disasters. Municipalities, including the Municipal District (MD) of Bonnyville, Athabasca County, County of Smoky Lake, and Lac La Biche County, have recently declared agricultural disasters in their areas.

Currently, crops on the east side of Thorhild County are significantly impacted by insufficient rainfall. Overall, rainfall in the County has been inconsistent, preventing crops from reaching near-normal production levels. While producers are hopeful for a second cutting of hay, many are buying hay to ensure they have enough feed for their livestock during the winter. Some producers have opted to write off certain crops, while others use them as silage to supplement their livestock feed.

Furthermore, the Thorhild Provincial Grazing Reserve is removing livestock six weeks earlier than last year due to poor pasture conditions.

Precipitation during the growing season is significantly below the yearly average for most of the County. Although some pastures may recover, the growing season has been shortened, and additional rainfall is needed. Some producers have begun feeding their livestock as grazing is no longer an option, given the lack of forage left on pastures due to recent heat waves and drought conditions.

It is important to note that declarations of agricultural disasters do not automatically grant access to increased funding programs at the provincial or federal levels. However, these declarations raise awareness among government entities about the challenges local producers face.

For ongoing updates, the weekly Alberta Crop Report provides information on crop production in Alberta during the crop season, compiled from survey data. The most recent Alberta Crop Report can be accessed on the Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation website at www.alberta.ca/alberta-crop-reports.