COLUMN: Accent on Agriculture - Farmers feel impact of climate ... - Winnipeg Free Press

COLUMN: Accent on Agriculture - Farmers feel impact of climate change - The Carillon

COLUMN: Accent on Agriculture – Farmers feel impact of climate change

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Manitoba grain farmers are among the luckiest in the world. They farm the mineral-enriched Red River clay that was left behind when ancient Lake Agassiz was no more. They almost always get enough rain to produce a crop and seldom get weather extremes. In short, Manitoba is a good place to be a farmer.

This year’s harvesting operations are just about over. Most crops in most of the province are in the bin. That includes winter wheat, fall rye, barley, oats, spring wheat and field peas. Only soybeans and corn remain. In spite of those two important crops, farmers in the keystone province are well ahead of the five-year average of 73 percent completed.

The last few years have been hard on livestock producers. Dry conditions cut two ways affecting feed and water supplies and reserves. There was not enough feed for the animals put aside to feed them in the winter and early spring. But for most, this year was a total turnaround. Half of all producers have enough hay put away to last until next summer, while an additional 40 percent have a surplus that will allow them to begin rebuilding feed supplies for emergencies.

A lot of cattle producers in Manitoba faced a three-pronged challenge this summer. Flies were a big problem. So was the issue of pink eye. And a lack of moisture cut into grazing and some ranchers had to start supplemental feeding earlier than normal. In review, the cattle industry was highly dependent on the amount of rain.

In a survey of 800 farmers done by the farm chemical company Bayer, it was found that more than 70 percent believe that climate change is already having an impact on their farm operations. The farmers surveyed felt that farm income was dropped by just over 15 percent as a result of climate change. 90 percent said they have experienced hotter temperatures. Farmers in the Red River Valley know they have also been impacted by climate change. They just hope that where they farm continues to be one of the best places in the world.

Jim Rae is the former host of Information Radio on CBC Radio.