The past snowfalls may have had residents of Ponoka and Ponoka County straining their backs shoveling themselves out of their driveways but there is a positive side to all of the snow.
Farmers in Ponoka County may see an upside to all this snow after experiencing extremely dry land during the course of the winter months.
Shayne Steffen manager of agricultural services for Ponoka County believes that the snowfall was a blessing in disguise.
“The snowfall has a positive effect,” said Steffen. “It would have been better if it had been rain but we did need the moisture.”
The heavy snowfall reached about 20 centimetres in Ponoka and up to 40 centimetres in other areas of Alberta over the weekend of April 18 to 20.
Steffen hopes that the snow will melt slowly so that the water will seep into the soil and revitalize it.
“The slower it melts the better,” said Steffen. “It gives the ground a chance to take the water up.”
Steffen believes that the melting of the snow will help farmers when it comes to planting their crops.
“The snow will give us good soil moisture for spring planting,” he said. “There will be more moisture for the germination of the seed and the plants will get going faster.”