A campaign has begun to move hay into drought-parched areas of Eastern Canada.
HayEast 2012 is looking for hay, transportation and cash to help producers in Ontario and Quebec.
Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan president Norm Hall said he saw first-hand the dried-out hay stands and stunted corn crops during a recent trip to Ontario.
“You couldn’t have hid a dog in the corn I saw.”
Hall said eastern farmers organized Hay West 10 years ago, which saved a lot of herds from starvation.
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Now it’s time to give back, he said.
The logistics are still being planned and involve staff from APAS, Wild Rose Agricultural Producers, Ontario Federation of Agriculture, Quebec Farmers Association, National Farmers Union-Ontario, Mennonite Disaster Services, Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario, 4-H Foundation of Alberta, Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association and the Saskatchewan and Alberta agriculture ministries.
OFA president Mark Wales told a roundtable at the federal-provincial-territorial agriculture ministers’ meeting in Whitehorse there is a pressing need that producers had stepped up to meet.
“Now we require the support of our federal and provincial governments, the railways, corporate partners and other stakeholders to make this effort have a real impact on the ground and sustain our livestock herds through this winter,” he said in a news release.
Producers in Ontario have called on Ottawa to trigger AgriRecovery funds to help transport prairie hay.
Hall said organizers still need to calculate who needs help and how much. As well, a database must be built.
Prairie producers with excess hay can either donate it to the campaign or sell it. Hall said he doesn’t expect sellers to lose money.
“They are willing to pay for the hay,” he said of the potential recipients. “The big deal is the transportation.”
He hopes the railways and truckers will step forward to help with logistics and cost.
Cash donations to help offset costs will also be accepted.
A website at www.hayeast2012.com has been set up for farmers who wish to register for hay or supply it.
