THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2011
VOL. 89 | NO. 19 | $3.75
P3
LOST IN THE STORM
SERVING WESTERN CANADIAN FARM FAMILIES SINCE 1923
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SEEDING | CONDITIONS
Farmers eager to get seeding in northern B.C., Alberta After years of drought, everyone is optimistic, says an input supplier BY MARY MACARTHUR CAMROSE BUREAU
The snowbanks haven’t quite disappeared from the north side of the trees and there are still a few too many wet spots in the fields. However, farmers in the Peace River area of northern Alberta and British Columbia began seeding this week. Doreen Berge of Rolla, B.C., said they were still leery of going around some of the low spots in their field, but she hoped warming days and light breezes will have most farmers in the field soon. On May 5, the sun was shining, the clouds had disappeared and the buds were starting to pop on the willows. access=subscriber section=news,crops,none
Jack Pick, along with his son, Kory, loaded nine B-trains with barley last week near Macoun, Sask. They were forced to adapt their operation to work around standing water. Many farmers across the Prairies have been unable to start seeding, which is causing concerns. | KORY PICK PHOTO
Seeding progress worrying farmers Seeding progress in Saskatchewan is not much different than last year but for some growers the situation feels far more ominous. In its second crop report of 2011, Saskatchewan Agriculture said seeding was one percent complete as of May 2, compared to two per-
cent a year ago. The numbers are similar but the circumstances are not, say some growers. “I’m increasingly worried that things are ugly,” said agriculture commentator Kevin Hursh, who farms near Cabri, Sask. “There has been damn little seeding, so how’s it all going to add up? We could have a whole lot of area that’s at
production risk from early frost.” Hursh considers himself fortunate. His small farm is located in a pocket of the province with fairly good seeding conditions. He had planted about one-quarter of his 1,500 acres as of May 4. But for other farmers it’s looking grim. “I think we’re on the cusp of a really big mess in eastern Saskatchewan
and into Manitoba,” he said. Hursh thinks the biggest difference between this year and last year is that in 2010 the rains came and didn’t stop but not before some growers had a good jump on seeding. In 2011 it seems like everybody is starting out with soggy fields.
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SEE CONDITIONS CHALLENGE, PAGE 2
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The Western Producer is published in Saskatoon by Western Producer Publications, which is owned by GVIC Communications Inc. Publisher, Larry Hertz Publications Mail Agreement No. 40069240; Registration No. 10676
MAY 12, 2011 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Box 2500, Saskatoon, SK. S7K 2C4
Weather woes | One percent completed in Saskatchewan similar to last year’s progress SASKATOON NEWSROOM
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SEEDING | PROGRESS REPORT
BY SEAN PRATT
FARMERS EAGER, PAGE 3