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Weeks of hot and dry weather in Saskatchewan have caused the worst drought in decades, and as a result, producers are going to great lengths to salvage what they can.
The Johnstone family never thought they’d be cutting their wheat crop in July. Drought has devastated many of their fields near Corderre, so 80 per cent of the wheat is being harvested green for cattle feed.
“We’re pretty sure we’re going to cut and bale and for us. With the amount of cattle we have, it’s welcome feed,” said Lawrence Johnstone.
This field produced about 40 bushels of grain per acre last summer. This year, it would have been about seven had the government not allowed full crop insurance coverage for fields turned to cattle feed.
Saskatchewan’s agriculture minister was at the Johnstone farm Monday to see the impact of the dry conditions. He said he’s not sure how much the additional crop insurance coverage, announced by the province last week, will cost quite yet.
“It’s obviously going to come with a bill attached to it. We’ve reached out to the federal government with the announcement, just to see where they are at with it. They are going to discuss it and let us know, but my cabinet colleagues supported me in this decision we had to make and felt it was very important to support the producers here,” said Minister of Agriculture David Marit.
Last week, the Government of Saskatchewan said it formally requested the federal government designate the entire province as eligible for the Livestock Tax Deferral program to assist producers who may need to liquidate some of their cattle herd due to feed or water shortages.
The Johnstones have a 700 head herd of cattle. Their pastures are just as dry and water is running low. They said cutting their wheat crop for feed will keep the herd going.
“We sold our cull cows, we took them to slaughter a couple of weeks ago before the prices dropped and here they’re dropping every day,” said Lawrence.
In last week’s crop report, the Ministry of Agriculture said the hot, dry conditions have caused crops to be short and thin, and crop yield and quality will be severely impacted without a significant rainfall.
The Ministry of Agriculture also reminded producers the Farm Stress Line is available 247 for confidential support, toll free at 1-800-667-4442. Calls are answered by Mobile Crisis Services in Regina.
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9 pm |
| -21 ℃ |
| BROKEN CLOUDS |
WIND: S 20 KM/H
GUSTING TO 49 KM/H |
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10 pm |
| -21 ℃ |
| BROKEN CLOUDS |
WIND: S 20 KM/H
GUSTING TO 51 KM/H |
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11 pm |
| -21 ℃ |
| BROKEN CLOUDS |
WIND: S 18 KM/H
GUSTING TO 48 KM/H |
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12 am |
| -20 ℃ |
| OVERCAST CLOUDS |
WIND: SSW 17 KM/H
GUSTING TO 45 KM/H |
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1 am |
| -18 ℃ |
| OVERCAST CLOUDS |
WIND: SSW 15 KM/H
GUSTING TO 42 KM/H |
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2 am |
| -16 ℃ |
| OVERCAST CLOUDS |
WIND: SW 15 KM/H
GUSTING TO 45 KM/H |
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3 am |
| -13 ℃ |
| OVERCAST CLOUDS |
WIND: WSW 19 KM/H
GUSTING TO 49 KM/H |
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4 am |
| -13 ℃ |
| OVERCAST CLOUDS |
WIND: W 21 KM/H
GUSTING TO 47 KM/H |
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TODAY |
HIGH OF -21 ℃
LOW OF -35 ℃ |
| CLEAR SKY |
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MONDAY |
HIGH OF -13 ℃
LOW OF -23 ℃ |
| OVERCAST CLOUDS |
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TUESDAY |
HIGH OF -18 ℃
LOW OF -27 ℃ |
| BROKEN CLOUDS |
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WEDNESDAY |
HIGH OF -14 ℃
LOW OF -21 ℃ |
| OVERCAST CLOUDS |
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THURSDAY |
HIGH OF -13 ℃
LOW OF -17 ℃ |
| OVERCAST CLOUDS |
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FRIDAY |
HIGH OF -10 ℃
LOW OF -19 ℃ |
| SCATTERED CLOUDS |
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SATURDAY |
HIGH OF 2 ℃
LOW OF -9 ℃ |
| OVERCAST CLOUDS |
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SUNDAY |
HIGH OF -1 ℃
LOW OF -11 ℃ |
| LIGHT SNOW |
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WILL DEMPSEY
RED DIRT ROAD
09:36 PM |
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BRETT YOUNG
UNCOMFORTABLE
09:32 PM |
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LUKE COMBS
JOE
09:29 PM |
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THE REKLAWS
WHERE IM FROM
09:25 PM |
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CHRIS JANSON
HANK THE HELL OUT OF THE HONKYTONK
09:22 PM |
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BRANTLEY GILBERT
ME AND MY HOUSE
09:18 PM |
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KENNY CHESNEY
WHEN I SEE THIS BAR
09:12 PM |
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ANDY ROSS
BACK ON THE BACKROADS
09:08 PM |
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TIM MCGRAW
BEAUTIFUL HURRICANE
09:04 PM |
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JEREMY LOOPS
LOVEBLOOD
09:00 PM |
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