Rain could translate into bumper crops for southern Alberta farmers

One group isn't complaining about Alberta's soggy summer farmers.

Some say the unusually high amount of rain could translate into bumper crops this season.

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"Yeah there's going to be some really good ones, if we don't get hail.", said Gary Rach, whose bright green barley and canola fields sit north of Calgary.

Over the last three months, weather experts say southern Alberta has seen 150 per cent more rain than usual for this time of year. In an area east of Strathmore, it's the most rain they've seen for that same period in the past five decades.

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Ralph Wright, with Alberta Agriculture says it's all thanks to one rainstorm after another.

"They basically haven't stopped since about mid may and they keep coming and coming," said Wright.

As for Rach, any talk about potential bumper crops is tempered by news of some falling crop prices and hopes for clear skies heading into harvest time.

"Oh yeah, it's going to have to dry out before we can do much cutting, that's for sure," he said.

Alberta Agriculture and Forestry crop specialist Mark Cutts says the rain started around the May long weekend.

"Timing wise worked out very well this year and obviously the moisture's been quite plentiful and quite frequent and that has certainly helped make these crops look as good as they do," he said.

Still, agriculture officials say all this moisture has created some problems for farmers hoping to dry out their hay.

And there are reports of rain related problems for some lentil crops this summer.