DOMINION CITY, Man. – Manitoba Water Resources Branch officials told Vern and Lorie Peters the water wouldn’t reach their farm. Canadian military engineers told them it would. It did.
“We built the dikes and sandbagged the barn,” said Lorie. “For nearly two weeks we were able to avoid flood waters. We began to think it had been a waste of time. Two days ago the water began to rise towards us.”
Precautions taken by the Peters to protect their 120-head dairy farm included the removal of dry cows and replacement animals to higher ground.
Read Also
Agriculture ministers agree to AgriStability changes
federal government proposed several months ago to increase the compensation rate from 80 to 90 per cent and double the maximum payment from $3 million to $6 million
“The corrals at the back of the barn where those cattle were kept are now under water,” said Vern.
He said the water came as the province adjusted Winnipeg’s floodway system to accommodate the crest of the flood.
“The water began running backwards up the river and came across country at us as well. My family has been here since 1951 and never has this happened. We know this is caused by the province operating the floodway to protect Winnipeg. We don’t begrudge them that. As long as they acknowledge it.
“They don’t appear to be ready to do that. We hope the residents of Winnipeg know the kind of sacrifices farms upstream are making for them,” said Vern Peters.
Gerald Lussier doesn’t blame anyone but nature for the flooding at his farm near Dominion City, 20 kilometres north of the United States border. He sold his 680 finishing hogs under weight, in advance of the water washing out his road.
“This will set us back five years,” Lussier said. “It is a loss of profits we might have had and a disruption of income. We don’t even know what sort of crop we’ll be able to plant. The land is still under water and it’s the third of May.”
Potential earning lost
Dennis Wahl knows how much money he lost on his 300 hogs: “$15,000 in lost potential earnings because we sold them before they were ready. And now I’ll be restocking the barn at higher prices to boot. I don’t know exactly how much damage there will be at the farm, but this is a real setback for our farm,” said the Emerson, Man., area farmer, after returning from a boat trip to his farm. He and his family are staying in Altona after being moved from their home.
Manitoba Milk Producers helped 16 valley farms relocate their dairy herds, numbering more than 200 animals.
“There will be lost production between 25 and 40 percent as near as we can tell due to the movement of the animals,” said spokesperson Jim Wade.
“It went well but there were animals lost in the moves to empty farms and those with space. That is the hardest part for many of the farmers to accept.”
Deena Meyer knows what it is to lose livestock. Her best emu hen died of hypothermia after water filled their barn near Ile des Chenes. She and husband Jack managed to secure a barn and someone to transport her remaining breeding pairs and immature birds to another grower located more than two hours southwest near Altona.
