BY LISA GOUDY
Times are grim for farmers across Saskatchewan
This is noticeably lower than the provincial average in the last five years, normally being over 50 per cent. The poor weather conditions have had a disastrous outcome on the agriculture industry.
“It’s been a very challenging year,” said Grant McLean, an agriculture ministry spokesperson. “In many cases, producers were challenged to get seeding in the optimum time.”
After April 1, precipitation levels increased to over 200 per cent of the typical rainfall prospects in that time frame. This caused hardships for many farmers seeding their crops, especially in the northeast and east-central areas of the province.
“It’s estimated that of the 32 million acres that we normally plant, eight million acres of that did not get planted and an additional four million acres that was planted that got flooded subsequently,” McLean said. “Certainly these prolonged wet periods…are going to have a detrimental effect on the grades that producers were expecting for their production.”
Jerry Prang, who farms in Milestone, was able to seed “not even 40 per cent” of his land, some of which is under water. Consequently, he has been unable to harvest any of his crops.
“Normally the years I’ve seeded continuous crop, so I seed everything. So out of 2,000 acres, I’ve only got 700 seeded and out of that 700 there’s quite a bit flooded out,” said Prang.
“If it keeps up like this, I could lose it all.”
The poor weather has done nothing for expenses, which still remain in place. Prang had to spray his fields numerous times, which increases costs. Lots of farmers are “pretty down” in all areas ofSaskatchewan
In Hague, Lyle Funk shares Prang’s disappointment at this year’s outcomes. Funk seeded most of his land and so far has harvested about 25 per cent of his crops. Normally, he should have two-thirds to three-quarters of his crop combined.
“It’s frustrating,” remarked Funk, “but there’s nothing you can do about it. You’ve got to wait for better conditions.”
Whether or not improved weather is coming remains to be seen.McLean noted that many individuals worry that the spring of 2011 will be even wetter and seeding will be “even more of a challenge.”
This is noticeably lower than the provincial average in the last five years, normally being over 50 per cent. The poor weather conditions have had a disastrous outcome on the agriculture industry.
“It’s been a very challenging year,” said Grant McLean, an agriculture ministry spokesperson. “In many cases, producers were challenged to get seeding in the optimum time.”
After April 1, precipitation levels increased to over 200 per cent of the typical rainfall prospects in that time frame. This caused hardships for many farmers seeding their crops, especially in the northeast and east-central areas of the province.
“It’s estimated that of the 32 million acres that we normally plant, eight million acres of that did not get planted and an additional four million acres that was planted that got flooded subsequently,” McLean said. “Certainly these prolonged wet periods…are going to have a detrimental effect on the grades that producers were expecting for their production.”
Jerry Prang, who farms in Milestone, was able to seed “not even 40 per cent” of his land, some of which is under water. Consequently, he has been unable to harvest any of his crops.
“Normally the years I’ve seeded continuous crop, so I seed everything. So out of 2,000 acres, I’ve only got 700 seeded and out of that 700 there’s quite a bit flooded out,” said Prang.
“If it keeps up like this, I could lose it all.”
The poor weather has done nothing for expenses, which still remain in place. Prang had to spray his fields numerous times, which increases costs. Lots of farmers are “pretty down” in all areas of
In Hague, Lyle Funk shares Prang’s disappointment at this year’s outcomes. Funk seeded most of his land and so far has harvested about 25 per cent of his crops. Normally, he should have two-thirds to three-quarters of his crop combined.
“It’s frustrating,” remarked Funk, “but there’s nothing you can do about it. You’ve got to wait for better conditions.”
Whether or not improved weather is coming remains to be seen.
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