Drought plaguing Canadian prairie crops

REGINA, Saskatchewan, July 2 (UPI) -- A severe drought is bringing havoc to grain and livestock farmers in Canada's prairie provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan.

Nine counties in southern Alberta have declared emergencies and imposed watering restrictions and open fire bans in response to the dry conditions also plaguing western Saskatchewan, the Globe and Mail reported Thursday.

One Saskatchewan researcher, Dr. Dave Sauchyn of the University of Regina, told the newspaper it's likely part of a larger trend.

"We can't possibly say with any certainty that this is a sign of global warming, but it's entirely consistent with global climate model projections," he said. "All this means is it's highly probable we haven't seen the worst of it yet."

Farmer Greg Becker told the Globe an insurance adjuster has already given him permission to completely write off this year's crops.

"I've got 100 head of cattle and absolutely nothing to feed them," he said. "They're out in a government pasture and what they're living off I can't tell you."