Cypress County declares state of agricultural disaster

Cypress County in southeastern Alberta has declared a state of agricultural disaster due to persistent drought conditions severely impacting local crops and livestock. The county made the declaration this week, marking the fourth such announcement in the past five years3456. Recent rains have had little effect, as most crops were already beyond recovery before moisture arrived63.

The declaration enables local producers to access provincial and federal relief programs, providing opportunities to salvage what remains of affected crops for livestock feed and to pursue the most financially viable options for their operations13. Soil moisture in southern Alberta was recently reported to be poor, with 17.6% classified as poor and 37% as fair as of July 8, highlighting the ongoing severity of the drought3.

Cypress County officials stressed that without this declaration, farmers' options to respond to the crisis would be limited. The government of Alberta has acknowledged the challenges posed by high input costs, variable weather, and drought, emphasizing the importance of risk management programs for affected producers3.

Cypress County’s repeated declarations underscore the region’s vulnerability to ongoing dry weather, with relief efforts now focusing on salvaging crops, supporting livestock producers, and connecting farmers with available government aid345.

1. https://chatnewstoday.ca/2025/07/15/cypress-county-declares-agricultural-state-of-disaster/
2. https://claresholmlocalpress.ca/2025/cypress-drought-prompts-local-agricultural-state-of-disaster/
3. https://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/two-municipalities-in-opposite-corners-of-southern-alberta-declare-agricultural-disaster
4. https://theagristory.com/cypress-county-declares-agricultural-disaster-amid-ongoing-drought-conditions/
5. https://x.com/CypressCounty/status/1945199273156485622
6. https://x.com/cypresscounty?lang=en
7. https://www.cypress.ab.ca
8. https://farmnewsnow.com/2021/07/17/declaration-of-agricultural-disaster-on-cypress-county-agenda-next-week/
9. https://x.com/Drew__Barnes/status/1945633145715659081