The agriculture industry is a busy place these days, providing this space with plenty on which to editorialize.
A recent report out of the federal auditor-general’s office and another from Deloitte Canada are questioning the federal government’s efforts to help the agriculture sector do its part to mitigate climate change.
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The auditor’s office says Agriculture Canada has not developed a strategy to help farmers meet emission reduction targets, while Deloitte has mapped out a way to build accountability into the targets.
Then there’s the proposed Bunge-Viterra merger, which is of tremendous interest to our readers.
Two recent reports — one by the Competition Bureau and the other by agricultural economists at the University of Saskatchewan — have poured cold water on the deal.
One sees the problems manifesting themselves mainly at the country elevator level, while the other focuses on the west coast.
What should the government do with these reports? It’s definitely a question worth exploring.
And finally, there’s the rapidly changing situation as avian flu spreads through U.S. dairy herds.
Scientists struggle to keep up with the virus and how it might affect consumers of beef and dairy products. Others warn that Canada isn’t doing enough to protect the industry from the disease threat.
All of these are worthy topics of discussion in this space, and we will be talking further about them in future issues of the paper.
This week, however, we decided to focus instead on something that is top of mind for most of our readers — increased moisture falling on much of the Prairies and the new hope it brings as farmers begin to put another crop in the ground.
The news on this front has been grim for most of the winter. Much of Alberta and parts of Saskatchewan suffered from drought last year, and there had been little indication that the situation was going to be any better this spring.
Fields and pastures received inadequate precipitation, and all signs pointed to a desperate scenario unfolding across parts of the Prairies.
Even a massive snowstorm that hit much of the region in early spring wasn’t enough to dispel the gloom.
However, recent moisture across many parts of the Prairie provinces is providing new hope.
This growing season has a long way to go yet, and by no means has the spectre of drought been completely banished.
But following a dry winter and forecasts of drier times to come, we finally have something to cheer about.
Those driving across the Prairies last week would have seen seeding rigs rushing to finish before the forecasted moisture fell.
Livestock producers, too, are relishing the precipitation and the prospects of greener pastures.
However, it’s important to not forget about safety during this seeding season, which many growers may be approaching with a higher sense of urgency than usual.
Trying to seed a crop before the promised rain arrives is definitely a priority, especially this year. But now more than ever, it’s important to keep our eyes on the most important prize of all — returning home safe and sound at the end of the day.
So, while many burning agriculture issues compete for our attention this spring, for now let’s savour a new sense of hopefulness permeating the countryside.
We’re not out of the woods yet, by any means, but it’s sure nice to see a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel.
And for those who are still waiting for rain, don’t lose hope. The season is still young.
Karen Briere, Bruce Dyck, Barb Glen, Michael Robin, Robin Booker and Laura Rance collaborate in the writing of Western Producer editorials.
