RADISSON, Sask. – While rainfall and flooding caused seeding delays in Saskatchewan in 2012, many farmers are facing bigger issues this year as a result of the prolonged winter.
“We need double-digit temperatures,” said Joan Heath, Chair of SaskCanola.
Heath and her husband have approximately 1,800 acres of land located near Radisson, Saskatchewan where they plan to grow canola, soft wheat and conventional wheat this season.
Bags of seeds and equipment remain in storage while two-thirds of their land is still covered by snow.
Heath now expects to begin seeding by May long weekend, weather permitting.
‘We know this is shaping up to be a season where we may be pretty dependent on our risk management programs like crop insurance. Farmers need to know exactly what they’re covered for and pay a lot of attention to when those seeding deadlines are,” said Heath.
The province has already said it will not be issuing any ad hoc payments for insurable damage, including unseeded acres.
Agriculture accounts for over a third of Saskatchewan’s total exports. Canola alone contributes $15.4 billion annually to the Canadian economy.
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