Nearly 20 million tonnes of feed made up the 2021 Hay West program. Now East Coast farmers are hoping things have improved enough on the Prairies this year to help them settle some of the accounts as the aid program’s sponsor, the Canadian Federation of Agriculture, wraps up the initiative. Todd Lewis, CFA second vice-president, […] Read more
Tag Archives Hay West
Hay West needs help transporting bales
OTTAWA — Hay West organizers said they need more money to move livestock feed to the West from Eastern Canada. Another corporate donor is expected this week, in addition to those that have already contributed, and they want the federal government to add to the $4 million it has already committed. But even if trucks […] Read more
Hay West: more hay needed
WINNIPEG, Man. – It was snowing on Greg Melchior’s farm near Battleford, Saskatchewan in early January – and he couldn’t have been happier. For Melchior, who has 114 head of beef cattle, the snow meant there might be better times ahead. “If we get enough snow, maybe things can return to normal,” he said. “Maybe […] Read more
Hay West receives more federal funding
Ottawa is committing $3 million to the Canadian Federation of Agriculture’s Hay West program to assist drought-plagued western ranchers get adequate feed following a devastating year for the industry on the Prairies. The announcement today from Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau comes on top of $1 million the feds previously committed to the program to help […] Read more
Donated hay from the East continues to move to the Prairies
The Canadian Federation of Agriculture and Mennonite Disaster Service both operate Hay West programs in response to this year’s drought
Two Hay West programs — from the Canadian Federation of Agriculture and Mennonite Disaster Service — continue to deliver much-needed feed to drought-stricken producers. The programs deliver hay from Eastern Canada to help western ranchers hit hard by a vicious drought. Keith Currie, CFA vice-president, said the CFA Hay West program has received donations of […] Read more
More Ont. hay arrives in the West
Two more truckloads of donated hay arrived in Saskatchewan from Ontario last week as part of the Mennonite Disaster Services Hay West program. Six loads have been delivered since the program started in September, with four more loads to go. “It’s moving along pretty well,” said Lester Weber of MDS Ontario, who is helping to […] Read more
Eastern hay arrives on western Canadian farms
Prairie producers breathe easier as Canadian Federation of Agriculture’s Hay West program begins delivering the goods
Ken Overby is breathing easier. This week, the fifth and final trailer load of round bales was unloaded at his 400-head bison ranch near Inwood, Man. The 190 round bales are part of Hay West 2021, a relief program operated by the Canadian Federation of Agriculture that is working with farmers across Atlantic and Eastern […] Read more
Force of the Golden Rule appears through Hay West
There are few things more stressful than owning livestock while knowing available feed and water may run out over a prairie winter. Drought hurts grain producers’ pocketbooks but when feed is in short supply or of poor quality, it’s about more than money for stock growers. Insurance, risk management tools, bank loans — and a […] Read more
Eastern hay arrives in the West
A light sprinkle of rain fell as the first two truckloads of alfalfa-timothy hay from Ontario arrived at Merlis Wiebe’s farm northeast of Osler, Sask., on Sept. 10. They are part of Hay West, a new program from Mennonite Disaster Service to help drought-affected farmers in Saskatchewan. The initiative is a repeat of 2012 Hay […] Read more
Hay West boosted spirits, fed a few cows
When Rob Somerville received a truck load of hay donated by eastern Canadian farmers, it was a morale boost as much as anything. “For us, it was the psychological lift that it provided that was every bit as valuable, or even more valuable, then the hay itself,” said Somerville. The hay donations are designed to […] Read more
