THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2011
VOL. 89 | NO. 25 | $3.75
SLOW Crop report | IT’S GOING
SERVING WESTERN CANADIAN FARM FAMILIES SINCE 1923
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P 24-25
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WEATHER | SOURIS RIVER
GOT ANY SUNSHINE ON THE BLOCK?
Swollen river forces southern Sask. residents out of homes BY KAREN BRIERE REGINA BUREAU
Several hundred residents in the village of Roche Percee, the Rural Municipality of Estevan and the cities of Weyburn and Estevan were evacuated last weekend as water rushed through the Souris River system. Government officials said some of the evacuees had registered at shelters set up in the two cities, but most found accommodation with family and friends. Dale Hjertaas, executive director of policy and communications at Saskatchewan Watershed Authority, said June 20 that more than 100 millimetres of rain during the weekend produced high flows and filled reservoirs that were still emptying from earlier rain. Water levels were expected to climb another 50 centimetres by June 21 through the Estevan and Roche Percee areas. access=subscriber section=news,none,none
SWOLLEN RIVER, PAGE 3
Allan McKenzie, a horse rancher from Leslieville, Alta., took in a machinery sale at Allen Olson Auction Services near Rimbey, Alta., June 17 to look for a truck for his daughter. Bidding went on despite the rain and sodden grounds. Torrential rainstorms wreaked havoc across much of the Prairies last week. | F. SCOTTY AITKEN PHOTO
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u|xhHEEJBy00001pzYv#:; JUNE 23, 2011 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Box 2500, Saskatoon, SK. S7K 2C4
Late seeding threatens scant crop Majority planted May 15 or later | Crops are developing slowly and frost fears are sending prices up BY ED WHITE WINNIPEG BUREAU
Thousands of farmers have already been devastated by large acreage losses because of flooding and saturation, but many thousands more will be worrying all summer about frost. A large minority of the Prairies was seeded late and is developing slowly, opening the window to the threat of frost. Long, warm falls have saved many farmers in recent years, but analysts say that won’t likely give them rea-
son to relax. “With canola we have been lucky a number of times,” said Marlene Boersch, co-founder of Mercantile Consulting Venture. Analyst Greg Kostal said the market now knows how many acres were unseeded or abandoned this spring — the Canadian Wheat Board estimates 6.5 million — and has turned its attention to the problem of late and slowly developing crops. “We’re obviously going to be talking about the need for a co-operative September and a longer first frost date, or we’re going to be going down
GREG KOSTAL ANALYST
the path of higher feed grain (proportions),” said Kostal. “We’re not going to resolve the
weather jitterishness any time quick.” The high likelihood of a big drop in prairie durum and pea production has already made those markets jump, with durum particularly affected. Western Canadian and North Dakota production dominates world durum trade, so a decline of possibly two million acres is scaring buyers. “That’s a game-changer and the market has responded accordingly,” said Kostal. access=subscriber section=news,crops,none
LATE SEEDING, 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
WEATHER | OUTLOOK