LEROY, Sask. – Pig barn roofs are coming down due to snow loading.
The above average snowfall in central Saskatchewan, as much as 180 percent of normal precipitation according to Environment Canada, is creating problems for hog producers.
Newer barns are designed to hold large numbers of animals and are up to 75 metres wide with relatively flat roofs.
Warm weather is causing snow to stick to the roofs and the accumulated precipitation is loading up the trusses.
Florian Possberg of Big Sky Farms in Humboldt, Sask., says the snow problems are unusual.
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“We started having problems in January. First we made a float to help keep the snow off. I’ve never seen a year like this in all years I’ve been
in business,” said the hog industry
veteran.
“We haven’t lost a roof, but we’ve been sending crews around shovelling them off,” said Possberg of his 27 barns at nine Saskatchewan locations.
Big Sky Farms modified a snow blower to carry up to the roofs to blow the buildings clear of the accumulated snow.
He said normally the weather is colder and windier and the snow blows off the buildings on its own.
“The roofs are a 2-12 pitch. If they were a standard roof they would be 50 feet high because they are so wide. The buildings are designed to hold a lot of weight, but not this amount of snow.”
Possberg said the snow can accumulate quickly and producers need to be vigilant to avoid building damage.
While Big Sky Farms hasn’t lost any roofs, Possberg said that in recent weeks other area farms had.
