Harvey Clark’s seeding equipment sat idle this spring, kept off his fields by torrents of rain that swept over his farm in May and June.
As seeding drew to a close last week, Clark was forced to confront the spectre of having 6,000 acres of unseeded land, the amount he and his two sons usually plant each year.
“I’m an old fella so it won’t bother me a hell of a lot,” said Clark, who farms near Lyleton, Man. “But there are a lot of young farmers in the district who it will hurt pretty bad.”
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The Lyleton area, located in southwestern Manitoba, had close to 400 millimetres of moisture this spring, making it impossible for several farmers to seed their fields.
Manitoba Agriculture estimates 1.25 million acres of provincial land went unseeded this spring because of the excess moisture that broke records in some parts. The impact was most visible in the southwestern corner, but the problem of saturated soils extended into pockets of land to the north and east.
In the southeastern corner of Saskatchewan, farmers were unable to plant at least a million acres of land, said Terry Karwandy, a crop analyst with Saskatchewan Agriculture. There were areas of unseeded acreage in other parts of the province as well.
With crop insurance deadlines now past, farmers are combatting weeds on fields that they could not work earlier. They also are turning more attention to the debate over income assistance for affected farmers.
Farmer Alan Clark waded into the middle of that debate last week. He lashed out at federal agriculture minister Lyle Vanclief, who visited Estevan, Sask., and Brandon, Man., to announce changes to the Agricultural Income Disaster Assistance program and the Net Income Stabilization Accounts. Clark followed up later in the week with plans for a farm rally June 29 at Melita, Man., one of the areas hardest hit by the wet weather.
He hoped the rally would send a message to government that affected farmers need more than what was announced by Vanclief.
Clark, who farms near Melita, could seed only 1,200 of the 3,000 acres that he would normally plant. A plane was used to sow 300 of those acres.
He believes flooded farmers need a $50 per acre payment for unseeded land. Forage growers also need compensation for lost production, he said.
As well, the Melita farmer wants lending institutions to defer principal and interest payments for producers and businesses who will suffer because of this spring’s soggy soils.
If the demands are not met, said Clark, increasingly frustrated farmers will take disruptive action. There were reports last week that part of that action might include a blockade of the Trans-Canada Highway, a move that could disrupt the Pan Am Games being held in Winnipeg.
“It’s not me leading that charge,” said Clark, in reference to the talk of civil disobedience. While he would confirm that a number of actions are being considered, he would not disclose details.
Manitoba premier Gary Filmon discouraged any acts of civil disobedience, suggesting that disruption of the Pan Am Games would not solve the problem. Filmon and Saskatchewan premier Roy Romanow last week sent letters to prime minister Jean Chretien asking for a meeting on the issue of disaster assistance.
The newly formed Rural Disaster Recovery Coalition also wants a $50 per acre payment on land that wasn’t seeded because of the flood. The coalition includes representation from Manitoba Cattle Producers, the Association of Manitoba Municipalities, the Canadian Association of Agri-Retailers, Canada West Equipment Dealers, the Brandon economic development board, and the Manitoba and Brandon chambers of commerce.
“The economic impact of the farm flooding is of immense proportions,” said Brandon chamber of commerce president Lori Dangerfield. “Agriculture is our economic base.”
Among recent casualties of the farm income disaster was an implement dealership at Melita. Antler River Equipment, a Case International farm machinery dealership, closed June 21, the same day Vanclief was in Brandon.
Clark Tweed, president of Canada West Equipment Dealers, views the closure as a reflection of tough times. Faced with poor price prospects for their grains, farmers are tightening their belts. The wide swath of unseeded land this spring will force farmers to tighten those belts even more.
Farm equipment dealers are already seeing a further decline in equipment sales, parts and service as farmers cut back on spending, Clark said.
“If they don’t absolutely need it, they’ll make due with what they’ve got,” he said.
