Cracked Earth Drought The Dry Ground Dry Soil

By CJME News Staff

APAS calls on governments for drought assistance

Jun 12, 2019 | 5:32 PM

The drought conditions in Saskatchewan this spring have prompted the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS) to call for help.

In a media release issued Wednesday, APAS revealed it has asked the provincial and federal governments to offer assistance to producers dealing with dry conditions.

“APAS is calling on both levels of government to initiate a drought-related AgriRecovery assessment,” association president Todd Lewis said in the release.

“For many producers, 2019 is our third straight year of below-average moisture. We can’t just keep hoping for rain. It is time to act.”

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In May, Environment Canada climatologist David Phillips said Saskatchewan is in what he called a “mega-drought.”

There hasn’t been much change through the early stages of June, either, and farmers are starting to worry about the futures of their crops and their herds.

According to APAS, “the livestock sector is now facing significant pressure sourcing grazing and feed supplies due to the emerging drought.”

As a result, APAS wants both governments to help with the supply and management of water, make the whole province eligible for the Federal Livestock Tax Deferral program, and form a new drought committee to monitor the drought conditions and recommend assistance as needed.

That committee would comprise government and industry representatives.

APAS also would like to see Saskatchewan Crop Insurance look at creating a program that would allow the conversion of drought-damaged cereal crops into livestock feed, such as green feed, silage or grazing without penalties against the producers.

“Producers across the province are under considerable stress,” Lewis said in the release. “The government may not be able to make it rain, but there are concrete actions that can be taken to alleviate some of the burden producers are dealing with.”