This winter southern Alberta has had a warm and relatively dry season, leaving farmland soils more susceptible to blowing and erosion. Lethbridge County says that with high winds and limited snow cover, some producers are already seeing topsoil move off fields. Soil loss can be costly and difficult to reverse, reducing soil productivity and affecting crop performance over time. For its part, Mike Gretzinger, Agronomy Manager, Farming Smarter says soil erosion is an ongoing issue in the region.
A 2016 study done at the University of Manitoba concluded that soil loss due to erosion costs the Canadian agriculture industry $2 billion per year in lost productivity.