Some farmers are nervously waiting for rain after wide swaths of central and southern Alberta experienced an extremely warm and dry winter.
"It would be ideal if we could get some moisture now," said Debbie Marsh, who runs a cattle and grain operation near Carstairs with her husband Murray.
- MORE CALGARY NEWS | Man killed as car slams into parked school bus in McKenzie Towne
- MORE CALGARY NEWS | Suicide of Calgary police officer puts focus on mental health and stress
February was the third driest on record in some parts of the province, according to Environment Canada and Murray said his farm saw just a single centimetre of snowfall in March.
Ralph Wright, a moisture specialist with the Alberta Agriculture and Forestry, said "a significant portion of the province" experienced among the warmest average temperatures on record through January, February and March — extremes that are expected to occur, on average, less than once in 50 years.
Sections of southern and central Alberta also saw extremely low levels of precipitation accumulate over the cold season, adding to the Marshes' worries.
"There doesn't seem to be a lot of moisture forecast in the short term and they said we could reach 20 degrees ... that's pretty warm for the first couple of days in April," Murray said.
"Those warmer than average temperatures are just weighing on the fact that moisture is marginal."
With 120 cows, some of them "very pregnant," he said there will soon be a lot of mouths to feed and the weather in the next couple of weeks could be crucial in providing enough food for the herd.
"If we don't get the moisture prior to mid-April, it starts to limit the amount of grass and forage we'll get," he said.
Kirk Torneby, a meteorologist with Environment Canada, said there may be hope on the horizon for producers like the Marshes, as there is more rain in the long-term forecast for April and beyond.
"Early indications, although confidence is not particularly high, is showing near-normal or slightly more than normal precipitation, especially for the southern part of the Prairies," he said.
To encourage thoughtful and respectful conversations, first and last names will appear with each submission to CBC/Radio-Canada's online communities (except in children and youth-oriented communities). Pseudonyms will no longer be permitted.
By submitting a comment, you accept that CBC has the right to reproduce and publish that comment in whole or in part, in any manner CBC chooses. Please note that CBC does not endorse the opinions expressed in comments. Comments on this story are moderated according to our Submission Guidelines. Comments are welcome while open. We reserve the right to close comments at any time.
Note: The CBC does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comments, you acknowledge that CBC has the right to reproduce, broadcast and publicize those comments or any part thereof in any manner whatsoever. Please note that comments are moderated and published according to our submission guidelines.