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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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10 am |
| 21 ℃ |
| CLEAR SKY |
WIND: N 16 KM/H
GUSTING TO 18 KM/H |
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11 am |
| 21 ℃ |
| CLEAR SKY |
WIND: N 16 KM/H
GUSTING TO 20 KM/H |
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12 pm |
| 21 ℃ |
| CLEAR SKY |
WIND: NNW 17 KM/H
GUSTING TO 22 KM/H |
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1 pm |
| 22 ℃ |
| SCATTERED CLOUDS |
WIND: NNW 19 KM/H
GUSTING TO 24 KM/H |
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2 pm |
| 23 ℃ |
| BROKEN CLOUDS |
WIND: NNW 20 KM/H
GUSTING TO 25 KM/H |
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3 pm |
| 25 ℃ |
| SCATTERED CLOUDS |
WIND: NNW 21 KM/H
GUSTING TO 26 KM/H |
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4 pm |
| 25 ℃ |
| SCATTERED CLOUDS |
WIND: NNW 22 KM/H
GUSTING TO 26 KM/H |
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5 pm |
| 25 ℃ |
| SCATTERED CLOUDS |
WIND: NNW 21 KM/H
GUSTING TO 25 KM/H |
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TODAY |
HIGH OF 25 ℃
LOW OF 11 ℃ |
| SCATTERED CLOUDS |
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SATURDAY |
HIGH OF 28 ℃
LOW OF 8 ℃ |
| BROKEN CLOUDS |
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SUNDAY |
HIGH OF 29 ℃
LOW OF 16 ℃ |
| MODERATE RAIN |
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MONDAY |
HIGH OF 26 ℃
LOW OF 17 ℃ |
| CLEAR SKY |
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TUESDAY |
HIGH OF 22 ℃
LOW OF 15 ℃ |
| LIGHT RAIN |
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WEDNESDAY |
HIGH OF 27 ℃
LOW OF 15 ℃ |
| CLEAR SKY |
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THURSDAY |
HIGH OF 30 ℃
LOW OF 18 ℃ |
| LIGHT RAIN |
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FRIDAY |
HIGH OF 28 ℃
LOW OF 17 ℃ |
| MODERATE RAIN |
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MORGAN WALLEN
SPIN YOU AROUND
10:39 AM |
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CHASE RICE
TWO TONE TRIPPIN
10:37 AM |
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RACHEL HOLDER
FIVE DAYS
10:33 AM |
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JESSIE JAMES DECKER
GROW YOUNG WITH YOU
10:30 AM |
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OLD DOMINION
LATE GREAT HEARTBREAK
10:26 AM |
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SEAN STEMALY
OVER THE RIVER
10:23 AM |
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COLT FORD
COUNTRY AF
10:20 AM |
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DEAN BRODY
DRINK AROUND
10:18 AM |
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SAM HUNT
23
10:12 AM |
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CHASE RICE
WAY DOWN YONDER
10:08 AM |
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