Farmers are going to benefit from the federal government’s $75 million injection of cash into weather offices, says the Canadian Federation of Agriculture.
More weather analysts will be working on drought analysis, farm weather services and severe weather advisories – something farmers have demanded.
“I don’t think any other industry in Canada has as much of a vital interest in weather and related sciences as the agriculture industry,” said CFA president Bob Friesen.
“Modern farmers need more than a farmer’s almanac. They need complex and complete climate data from the most technologically sophisticated sources available.”
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Many cities used to house government weather forecasters, but the federal environment department has been consolidating the system for years. Most future forecasting will come out of five centres, with the main prairie office in Edmonton.
It will issue most weather forecasts for the Prairies and will also contain a new drought research centre. The smaller office in Regina will focus on farm weather services. Winnipeg will still have a weather office, but 22 of its present staff are being transferred to Edmonton.
Federal environment minister David Anderson said the $75 million in additional weather office spending will be spent over the next five years.
