It’s mid-May, and on some days, it’s warming up nicely. Other days the sun is out, but sometimes grudgingly.

At the same time, I’m hearing from farmers that we are happy with a slower warm-up. Not as many fires, as Pete from Leduc said yesterday. La Crete is just beginning seeding operations; it’s been a slow melt. Central Alberta could use rain; Jake of Lacombe said today they have had two little rains, “Almost enough to wet the sidewalk cement.” Spring in Canada is different about every 20 miles.

Toward the end of April, I was in Lacombe, Manning, La Crete, and Mallaig and also at the newest growing project just south of Andrew. I also attended the planning meeting of the Newell Project in Rosemary and a Turkey Bingo at Iron Springs Public School, where they raised over $9,000, which is shared between the Picture Butte growing project and Iron Springs School.

A green tractor pulls an air seeder
Seeding at Lacombe

A group of people gathered in a school gym for an event.
Iron Springs School turkey bingo

A group of people gathers around a table
Mallaig spring launch

A green tractor pulls a green air seeder raising some dust in the field.
Westfield (Foremost) seeding durum wheat

-Abe, Canadian Foodgrains Bank regional representative