Page 13 - Salute to Agriculture

THURSDAY MARCH 25 2021 n THE BRANDON SUN WESTMAN THIS WEEK B13
n
Producers have moisture on their minds

BY COLIN SLARK moving in the right direction
with rising commodity and
It could be another dry year stabilizing livestock prices.
for Westman crop producers. “We know a lot more than
Though there was far too we did a year ago with regards
much moisture for most peo- to safety protocols and PPE
ple’s liking at the end of June and that part,” he said about
and beginning of July last year farming during COVID-19.
when excess rainfall caused “There still is that element of
flooding, it has been fairly dry uncertainty and we haven’t
since August. mentioned the weather yet.”
That lack of moisture com- He said there have been re-
bined with a forecast that ports that the last winter was
doesn’t predict a lot of rain one of the driest on record in
could be a bad combination. certain areas because of a lack
Natalie Hasell, a warning of snowfall.
preparedness meteorologist “Not to complain about it
with Environment and Cli- because it has made winter a
mate Change Canada, told bit more tolerable other than
the Sun that rainfall events the two weeks of extremely
over the next month are sup- cold weather we had, it has
posed to be small individually, been beneficial in some as-
though there is a chance that pects,” said Campbell. “But
collectively they could add to moving forward, we realize
to an above-average total. that we need subsoil moisture
A seasonal forecast issued and subsoil moisture replen-
at the end of last month un- ishment to ensure a good crop
fortunately doesn’t offer more moving forward.”
clarity. Though the lack of sus-
“Unfortunately for south- tained rain last year might
ern Manitoba, it doesn’t actu- have meant the subsoil mois-
ally have a dominant trend for ture reserves in Manitoba were
precipitation,” said Hasell. “It depleted, he said it also led to
literally could go either way. It an easier harvest than in 2019.
could be near normal, it could On KAP’s list of lobbying pri-
above normal, it could be be- orities for this year is the car-
low normal.” bon tax, specifically the insti-
However, she said that in tution of an exemption to the
southeast Saskatchewan, Though there was far too much moisture for most people’s liking at the end of June and beginning of July last year when excess tax for producers drying their
the seasonal forecast shows rainfall caused flooding, it has been fairly dry since August. That lack of moisture combined with a forecast that doesn’t predict grain and heating and cooling
a trend toward below nor- a lot of rain could mean another dry year for Westman producers. (File) farm buildings.
mal precipitation. That could “I know that’s been a topic
mean Westman is in the same in late summer 2020. got more farmers to pick the so that’s always encouraging.” will be a better choice.” of conversation at the federal
boat as its neighbouring re- The alliance was formed last brains of and get some head- Coming into the 2021 grow- Luckily, Greig said farming level and they’re talking about
gion to the west. year when members of the space on them and get their ing season, he says producers has probably been one of the a rebate program,” said Camp-
Hasell speculated that the Manitoba Wheat and Barley input on issues that affect he has talked to are worried segments of the economy that bell.
dry conditions currently might Growers Association, Manito- us all instead of individu- about the lack of precipitation has continued to drive activity “There’s also the whole issue
be beneficial to farmers, let- ba Corn Growers Association, ally,” Grieg said. “Some of the and the potential depletion of during COVID-19. However, of carbon sequestration and
ting them sow their crops Manitoba Flax Growers Asso- boards are smaller, so it can be subsoil moisture. repairs to equipment have the whole issue of agriculture
without having equipment get ciation, Winter Cereals Mani- quite a daunting task some- If conditions stay dry, Greig been delayed if they’re com- getting acknowledged for the
stuck in the mud. toba and the National Sun- times. From a staff standpoint, is guessing that most produc- ing out of the United States benefit they provide to society.
That was a problem in late flower Association of Canada it sure was nice to have some ers will switch to crops that and there have been some de- We take carbon dioxide from
2019 when a dry spring and voted to merge into a single overlap in some positions.” handle lack of moisture better. lays along the industry’s value the air and produce food and
summer was capped off with entity. He said that unlike in 2019, Until then, they’re probably chain. release oxygen and store car-
a wet fall that made it hard Board chair Fred Grieg, who most producers were probably sticking with their rotations. At Keystone Agricultural bon in the soil and the prod-
for producers to harvest their operates a farm near Reston, pleased with how 2020 treated “That’s the most sustain- Producers, president Bill ucts we produce.”
crops. said COVID-19 prevented the them from a weather stand- able thing long term,” he said. Campbell said that producers On his own farm south of
“But if we don’t get a lot of organization from holding point. “There’ll be a little more bar- always go into a new growing Brandon, Campbell said he’s
precipitation at the right time, in-person strategic planning “For as little moisture as we ley and oats this year at the season with optimism but are excited to see the grass start
getting water to crops could be meetings last year, but work got throughout the growing expense, probably, of spring realistic about potential prob- to turn green, for seeds to start
expensive,” said Hasell. continues to get done based season, I think the soil reserves wheat. It looks like canola lems that could arise. going into the ground and for
At the Manitoba Crop Alli- on the framework left behind we were able to rely on a bit,” might take some acres from While he said there isn’t cer- cows to be let out to pasture.
ance, work is getting ready to by the constituent groups be- he said. “Timely rains made soybeans again, especially if tainly around the issue yet,
prepare for its first full growing fore the merger. for a better than average crop, guys think it’ll be a little drier. Campbell said that there’s a » cslark@brandonsun.com
season after being established “What’s really nice is we’ve I think. Prices have snuck up, Maybe peas and sunflowers general sense that things are » Twitter: @ColinSlark

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