Happy New Year.
I hope it will be. Last year was a tough one for many people in my life, and for many farmers in southern Manitoba and Saskatchewan.
It didn’t surprise me when the prairie flooding of spring and summer 2011 made No. 1 on Environment Canada senior climatologist David Phillips’ Top 10 weather events list. It was pretty bizarre: entire towns were inundated, whole herds had to be moved to higher ground, seeding was nearly impossible and crops that did get in — especially in parts of Manitoba — were minuscule per acre.
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Therefore, much better moisture conditions for this region makes No. 1 on my wish list for 2012.
For the farmers who managed to get a great crop off, I hope for a second year of spectacular yields. Dad got 40 to 50 bushels of wheat on some parts of his land and his canola was incredible. Some folks did better — even a lot better. In fact, some farmers couldn’t believe what they were harvesting. Is it too much to hope for two back-to-back years of eye-popping yields?
For the hog producers of Manitoba, I wish for a sensible resolution to the Save Lake Winnipeg Act. The act, which slipped in right before the election, has put more restrictions on an already highly restricted industry. Basically, the act serves as a moratorium on any realistic expansion. Producer groups are also worried that other agricultural pursuits could be affected.
If the Save Lake Winnipeg Act is not managed properly, it could significantly affect the agriculture and food industries in Manitoba, which together make up 9.5 percent of GDP and 14 percent of employment.
For every citizen of Canada, but producers particularly, I wish for a change of heart within the Stephen Harper government concerning Environment Canada.
This summer, the government announced it would hack slightly more than 1,200 jobs from the service, or about 21 percent of the workforce. A number of them have already received pink slips.
Before this announcement, Environment Canada had already been significantly degraded, and I don’t understand why the government doesn’t understand the importance of a well-funded, properly staffed public weather and climate service.
And wish No. 5 is for all of you to enjoy a happy, healthy, prosperous new year, resplendent with perfect weather.
