Jun 24, 2022

Author of the article: Article content From a drought last year to flooding this spring, Manitoban farmers have dealt with just about everything Mother Nature could throw at them. Advertisement 2 Article content Try refreshing your browser, or Manitoba farmers deal with just about everything Mother Nature could throw at them this spring Back to video Despite many farmers getting their seeds in the ground later than anticipated, about 93% of the province’s farmland has been seeded, Manitoba Agriculture Minister Derek Johnson says. “As for predictions for the crop outlook, it’s pretty tough to tell what it’s going to be like now but as farmers are, we are very optimistic for a great growing season,” Johnson said in a phone interview. What farmers need now is some sun. “What we need is some 28-degree days with moderate breeze,” said Keystone Agricultural Producers president Bill Campbell. “And no rain for a while. We need the crop to get growing and going.” Flooding posed some problems for farmers. Many central regions of Manitoba received more than 100% of the usual rainfall since May 1 with some areas in western parts of the province getting in even more, according to the provincial crop report. Advertisement 3 Article content In some cases, Campbell said, there have been erosion and germination problems on Manitoba farmlands due to excess water. In the coming weeks, farmers will be looking to spray herbicides and there is still too much water on the land to carry sprayers, Campbell added. “We’ve seen about every scenario that could present a challenge to the ag industry throughout Manitoba presenting itself,” he said. However, on a positive note, Campbell said that a lot of pastures and grasslands have now turned green, resulting in livestock being able to be out in the pasture. “There seems to be a level of contentment for the livestock out on the pastures,” he said. “They seem to be much happier eating grass and away from the yard and us looking at them every day.” Advertisement 4 Article content Charles Fossay, the vice-president of the Manitoba Canola Growers Association, says that every year is different for farmers and remaining flexible is key Fossay has been farming for 50 years near Starbuck. “Sometimes you just can’t go exactly according to the plan,” he said. “And you have to go to plan B, plan C, and sometimes plan D.” To go along with the unfavourable weather, the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in some disruptions to the supply chain, as well as skyrocketing inflation, which has also posed its own challenges. Farmers are also facing increased costs, which can be reflected in the price of food, Campbell said. “I think there needs to be that transmission of information that this is a value chain and a supply chain and a whole part of processing, that some of the costs that have been placed upon society are reflected in the price of their food,” he added. Advertisement 5 Article content Johnson said he isn’t sure if there are many residual effects of the COVID-19 pandemic being felt in the agricultural industry but echoed Campbell’s sentiments about supply chain issues. “The last couple of years, we’ve had lots of crop demonstrations,” Johnson said. “And we applied for research where producers were able. And we learned about the challenges, and we have our diversification centres across our province that also help educate us, not just as a government, but all that information is there for producers to use as well.” The provincial government’s agriculture department does well in working with producers to address their concerns, Johnson said. Campbell concurred with Johnson’s assessment, saying the province has been proactive in dealing with recent weather events. rstelter@postmedia.com Share this article in your social network Share this Story: Manitoba farmers deal with just about everything Mother Nature could throw at them this spring