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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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6 am |
| -18 ℃ |
| BROKEN CLOUDS |
WIND: SE 14 KM/H
GUSTING TO 28 KM/H |
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7 am |
| -17 ℃ |
| BROKEN CLOUDS |
WIND: SSE 15 KM/H
GUSTING TO 30 KM/H |
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8 am |
| -17 ℃ |
| BROKEN CLOUDS |
WIND: SSE 15 KM/H
GUSTING TO 32 KM/H |
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9 am |
| -16 ℃ |
| SCATTERED CLOUDS |
WIND: SSE 17 KM/H
GUSTING TO 36 KM/H |
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10 am |
| -14 ℃ |
| FEW CLOUDS |
WIND: SSE 18 KM/H
GUSTING TO 36 KM/H |
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11 am |
| -11 ℃ |
| CLEAR SKY |
WIND: SSE 19 KM/H
GUSTING TO 33 KM/H |
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12 pm |
| -9 ℃ |
| CLEAR SKY |
WIND: SSE 19 KM/H
GUSTING TO 33 KM/H |
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1 pm |
| -7 ℃ |
| SCATTERED CLOUDS |
WIND: SSE 20 KM/H
GUSTING TO 33 KM/H |
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TODAY |
HIGH OF -3 ℃
LOW OF -18 ℃ |
| SCATTERED CLOUDS |
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MONDAY |
HIGH OF -3 ℃
LOW OF -11 ℃ |
| OVERCAST CLOUDS |
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TUESDAY |
HIGH OF 0 ℃
LOW OF -7 ℃ |
| FEW CLOUDS |
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WEDNESDAY |
HIGH OF -4 ℃
LOW OF -13 ℃ |
| LIGHT SNOW |
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THURSDAY |
HIGH OF -8 ℃
LOW OF -15 ℃ |
| OVERCAST CLOUDS |
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FRIDAY |
HIGH OF -4 ℃
LOW OF -14 ℃ |
| BROKEN CLOUDS |
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SATURDAY |
HIGH OF 7 ℃
LOW OF -5 ℃ |
| OVERCAST CLOUDS |
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SUNDAY |
HIGH OF 4 ℃
LOW OF -1 ℃ |
| OVERCAST CLOUDS |
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KENNY CHESNEY
BEER WITH MY FRIENDS
06:13 AM |
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KIP MOORE
LIVIN SIDE
06:09 AM |
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GEORGE CANYON
CRAZY LOVE
06:05 AM |
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ANDY ROSS
PLAYING IN THE MUD
06:01 AM |
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BRIAN KELLEY
ACRES
05:57 AM |
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AUSTIN TOLLIVER
GHOST IN MY TRUCK
05:55 AM |
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CHASE WRIGHT
TRUTH IN A LIE
05:52 AM |
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RASCAL FLATTS
SUMMER NIGHTS
05:48 AM |
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LINDSAY ELL
BY THE WAY
05:43 AM |
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THOMAS RHETT
BOOTS
05:41 AM |
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