With drought conditions present in most of Saskatchewan’s farmland, farmers' groups and the official opposition are calling for help from the government.
According to the Canadian Drought Monitor, as of June 30, Humboldt and its immediate area is experiencing its third straight month of severe drought.
“APAS [the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan] is calling on both levels of government to initiate a drought‐related AgriRecovery assessment. For many producers, 2021 follows a long period of below‐average moisture,” said Todd Lewis, the organization's president.
“We can’t just keep hoping for rain. It is time to act.”
The Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association said in a release multiple consecutive years of well-below average precipitation have pushed livestock operators to the brink and that producers are facing the difficult decision to reduce herd sizes by up to 40 per cent by winter.
“Pastures are parched, hay and forage is scarce and feed costs are at record-highs. Most producers don't have any carryover hay. Water quality and quantity are concerns in many areas of the province. We have less than 40 per cent of normal soil moisture across most of the province.” said Kelcy Elford, the Stock Growers’ president.
“This is far more serious than normal year-over-year fluctuations, and livestock producers need more than crop insurance.”
APAS is calling both the provincial and federal government to extend the AgriStability enrollment deadline and provide enhanced coverage.
In the provincial sphere, APAS is asking the provincial government to initiate the AgriRecovery assessment process and establish a provincial drought committee made up of government and industry representatives.
The Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation is being asked to expedite the assessment of insured crops that can be pastured or harvested as greenfeed and silage, create a low-yield appraisal level (the point at which it would be uneconomical to harvest a normal crop) for “zero yield” and allow those crops to be grazed or converted to feed without penalty.
APAS is asking the provincial agriculture ministry to improve access to water supplies through enhancements to the Farm and Ranch Water Infrastructure Program, including
- Developing a new Agricultural Water Pumping Program to source and make available loaned pumps and pipes for consolidation of existing water sources.
- Fast-tracking water development applications for drought-designated zones.
- Increasing funding caps and waive limitations of eligible expenses to remove program caps for fencing of existing water sources and livestock water tanks.
- Funding mobile fire protection units for rural communities as eligible expenditures.
The Stock Growers said changes to the Farm and Ranch Water Infrastructure Program should include a 80/20 cost share, increasing caps for drought-impacted regions and expanding the program to cover above-ground and buried reservoirs for existing pipelines.
As for the federal government, APAS is asking them to immediately designate the entire province of Saskatchewan as eligible under the federal Livestock Tax Deferral program and extend eligibility to include calves, yearlings, and other livestock.
“Producers across the province are under considerable stress,” Lewis said. “The government can’t make it rain, but there are concrete actions they can take to alleviate some of the burdens producers are dealing with.”
“Ranchers will be forced to disperse significant portions of their herds before winter,” Elford said. “We're halving our cattle and incomes. We need relief now."
The opposition Saskatchewan NDP said they’re supporting these calls.
“As drought is severely impacting and threatens many producers, farms and ranches, it’s clear the Sask. Party is asleep at the switch and taking farm families for granted,” said Trent Wotherspoon, the party’s agricultural critic.
“In the face of this drought and very serious feed and water challenges, producers and ranchers need a government that will listen to them, step up and support them when they need it.”
