SOURIS, Man. – Pat and Kelly Murphy were mending fences last week, pounding in new fence posts and tapping in a staple here and there.
They were making the most of a lull in the seeding season. Wet weather, which arrived in early May, had put their seeding plans on hold.
Pat was far from flustered by the delay. With much of his land in hay and pasture, it was hard to begrudge the rains.
“It’s not the end of the world for anyone, unless you’re straight grain,” said Pat, who farms west of Souris. “It’s still reasonably early.”
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The Murphys plan to seed 600 acres this year. They managed to get 150 acres of wheat sown before the rains and overcast weather moved into the region.
The wet weather, which continued through much of last week, also brought seeding to an abrupt halt around Hamiota, Man.
Most farmers there were just starting to move into the fields when the rains arrived.
John Patterson, provincial agricultural representative for the Hamiota area, said there was already adequate subsoil moisture before the wet weather.
But the rains helped perk up pastures and hay fields, he said, noting there is still ample time for farmers to get their crops in.
“We’re not at the point yet where it’s a disaster. It’s only mid-May not mid-June, so I’m not that concerned just yet. But as time goes on, the concern starts to increase.”
Seeding on hold
Farther south, the picture was less promising for farmers with low-lying land along the Souris River.
Spring runoff caused the river to swell, swamping a number of fields between Hartney and the Canada-United States border.
The river began subsiding a couple of weeks ago but recent rains have driven water levels up again. Even without further rains, it will likely be three weeks to a month before the farmers affected by flooding along the Souris can seed, said Alf Warkentin of Manitoba’s water resources branch.
There were some areas of southwestern Manitoba that reported more than 200 millimetres of rain during the torrents that struck the first week in May.
Residents of Deloraine, Man., were reporting flooded basements and several municipalities were contending with damaged roads.
It’s expected that municipalities affected by the glut of rain will ask the province for help to repair damages. Municipalities have 30 days after a disaster to apply for assistance.
Farmers who see decreased yields due to delayed seeding can apply to Manitoba’s crop insurance program for help.
