THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 2016
VOL. 94 | NO. 17 | $4.25
STAY DRY |
SERVING WESTERN CANADIAN FARM FAMILIES SINCE 1923
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MONITOR AND CONTROL GRAIN DRYER FROM A DISTANCE
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GAMBLING ON PULSES Prairie pulse acres will soar to a record high if farmers can crystallize their plans to plant more lentils and peas this year. They also plan less spring wheat, canola, oats, flax and summerfallow. | SEE PAGE 6
MICHELLE HOULDEN ILLUSTRATION
Analysis Columnist Kevin Hursch gives his take on the seeding intentions report | P. 10
Rail extensions Ottawa extends regulations under the Fair Rail Act | P. 5
SOIL MOISTURE
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Most growing areas considered dry and forecast shows little rain to come in next few months BY BARBARA DUCKWORTH CALGARY BUREAU
THORSBY, Alta. — From as far south as the United States border and up the Queen Elizabeth highway that bisects Alberta, there is a veil of dust hanging in the air as farmers cultivate and seed crops in mid-April. Alberta Agriculture reports most of the growing area of the province is under very warm to extremely warm conditions and growing
areas are considered dry. It is too early to declare a disaster but farmers are nervous as they remember 2002, Alberta’s worst drought in recorded history. The spring of 2015 was also dry so drought planning for pastures should have started then, said forage specialists at a drought management workshop at Thorsby, Alta., on April 19. “The number one drought strategy should have been started last
year to stock your pastures at moderate or less stocking rate,” said Ed Bork. He is the Matthies chair in range management at the University of Alberta and farms near Edmonton. “Remember if you had a dry year last year those plants are already stressed going into this year. They will have a shallower root mass and they need to be babied more this spring in order to make sure you get everything you can in terms of for-
age growth,” he said. A subtle change of two degrees Celsius on average results in an eight percent decline in productivity. This year, Alberta Agriculture reports March temperatures were eight degrees above normal. “If that trend continues into May and June, think about how much more water you will need to keep a viable forage stand,” he said. SEE ALBERTA FARMERS, PAGE 4
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APRIL 28, 2016 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Box 2500, Stn. Main, Saskatoon, SK. S7K 2C4 The Western Producer is published in Saskatoon by Western Producer Publications, which is owned by GVIC Communications Corp. Publisher: Shaun Jessome Publications Mail Agreement No. 40069240
Alberta farmers nervous about dry spring