A BALE IN TIME
I’m writing you in regards to a story written by Dan Yates published in the Feb. 14 issue, Starving deer invade farms, cities; coyotes follow — scrounging for food.
Saskatchewan wildlife officials are concerned that a larger than normal winterkill is likely, says Mike Gollop, a fur and problem wildlife specialist with the Saskatchewan environment ministry.
Darrell Crabbe of the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation agreed. Gollop said, “You could kill all the animals but short of that you’re not likely to get them to leave because they’ve got nothing to go to.”
Read Also
Crop insurance’s ability to help producers has its limitations
Farmers enrolled in crop insurance can do just as well financially when they have a horrible crop or no crop at all, compared to when they have a below average crop
People want solutions to those problems and I don’t blame them.
One suggestion is that with a portion of the funds collected from hunting licences and wildlife certificates, which according to the government of Saskatchewan’s environmental website is over $2 million, that funds be allocated to the game wardens to pay farmers for a round bale of hay and that bale of hay be strategically placed every 10 miles or so apart where needed.
Personal experience has seen good results, with the bales preventing deer from destroying trees and shrubs and not having them venture through towns.
A bale of hay placed a mile or so from the yard keeps the deer out of the yards and away from the feed stacks.
Emile Frerotte,
Assiniboia, Sask.
OFFLOADING PASTURES
What a great opportunity the province of Saskatchewan has been given, to be given control over acres of land that is as close to its natural state as possible for the times: lush green grass, clean clear water, fresh clean air, wildlife roaming freely, wildflowers blooming, species at risk protected.
Here is one of the last opportunities to witness nature at its best, a way of life that would be the dream and envy of many people: the cowboy and his/her horse, land that is at the present protected from the plow and draining.
And how do we support and pay for this opportunity? We allow cows, the closest species to nature since the buffalo roamed these same lands, to graze these lands.
With proper management, cows would help pay day to day expenses. It would also provide employment, but most of all, it would keep a large parcel of land closest to its natural state for all of society to enjoy into the future.
We ask the Saskatchewan government to take this opportunity to maintain complete hold of these lands and manage them like they do with their own community pastures, for they are the stewards of the land.
I, being in my twilight years, can look back and say that I have been given good health, the desire to better my life, the ability to contribute to society in a positive way.
This has all been made possible because I had the opportunity to be a farmer.
Dan Thorsteinson,
Foam Lake, Sask.
REAL FOOD
The idea that we need genetically modified organisms to feed the world, I believe, is very untrue. The real reason is power to control the food supplies; with that, you control the people.
If the European Union doesn’t want GMOs and hormones in their food, perhaps we should change and produce what they want, not what big agricultural and chemical companies try to force on them.
You can be well assured that the people in control don’t touch soy, canola, vegetable oil, sugar or the majority of the food in North American grocery stores as they know the health hazards.
Some of us know what real food is and the people of Europe sure do.
Lawrence Hollings,
Donalda, Alta.
STAY WITH CFA
Re: Canadian Pork Council pulls out of CFA (Feb. 22/13).
I am writing as a farmer who raises turkeys and hogs in Manitoba, and previously grew crops.
I am disappointed by the decision of the Canadian Pork Council to withdraw from the Canadian Federation of Agriculture, although I am pleased that discussions between the two organizations are ongoing to mend the relationship.
As a hog farmer, it is clear to me that CFA is about more than trade.
It is also clear to me that CFA has supported grassroots hog farmers for many years on many issues including, among other things, early farm income support programs through to the current safety net programs, all to our benefit.
I believe CFA supports the opening of trade, contrary to what the (Barry) Wilson article reports. Trade is not something you can simply be for or against; it is the terms of trade that matter and I am not sure why people don’t understand that.
CFA has supported all of my farm enterprises through thoughtful trade analyses and a broad swath of other matters important to the farm community.
My hope is that the CPC leadership will rethink their decision and renew its position in the CFA to the betterment of both organizations, as well as for the betterment of Canadian farmers, regardless of their farms’ production.
Wayne Kroeker,
Landmark, Man.
POLLINATORS CRUCIAL
What’s killing rural pollinators?
Susan Chan suggests that allowing plants to bloom along road allowances would provide food for pollinators (WP Feb 14).
The County of Wetaskiwin sprays the roadside ditches for weeds. Controlling weeds has intimation that it is a beneficial thing to do. The list of weeds that the county controls is long.
This fall is the first time that I have seen wild oats growing in a ditch. I have been looking. They’re close to the edge of the pavement where nothing else was growing.
What grows in ditches? Perennials grow in ditches, not annuals. On cropland, with a few exceptions, annuals grow.
In the County of Wetaskiwin, the major exceptions include thistles, toad flax and quackgrass. Other than these weeds, the spraying is a total waste of money.
I have yet to see a patch of goldenrod in my fields.
Many years ago there was a half mile of wild roses — the provincial flower — in one of my ditches. The county killed them all. Across the road from this ditch has been a field of forages for 25 years. There were no wild roses in this field.
Canola needs pollinators. I wonder if the death of pollinators was considered when the roadside spraying policy was developed. It was probably dismissed.
Governments can do that — let someone else worry about it.
Clark Lysne,
Wetaskiwin, Alta.
WHEAT CLARIFICATION
Re: New solid stemmed wheat shows promise for growers by Brian Cross, Jan. 24.
I would like to clarify some information that was provided in error to The Western Producer and to others attending this year’s annual meeting of the Saskatchewan Seed Growers Association.
The incorrect information was part of a presentation made by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada at the annual meeting and reported in the WP article, “New solid stemmed wheat shows promise for growers,” published on Jan. 24, 2013.
This is to clarify the stem status of the variety known as AAC Bailey, a new red spring wheat developed by AAFC and distributed through a licence.
The variety was registered as hollow stemmed and does not resist sawfly damage as it was expected to do early in the breeding process. It is not being marketed as a solid-stemmed wheat.
We regret any confusion this mistake may have caused and we are taking steps to clarify where needed.
Bruce McArthur,
acting research and development director, Agriculture Canada
