Snowfall a welcome sight for Manitoba farmers and ranchers
While many Manitobans are likely fed up with digging out from the recent snowfall, agriculture producers in the province are breathing a sigh of relief.
They say the recent snowfall will give producers the added moisture they need to get a good start to the 2022 growing season.
Joe Bouchard, a cattle producer in Fisher Branch, has 400 cows and 1,400 acres of grain. He said last year’s drought took a toll on many producers in the province, and called 2021 the hardest year he has ever faced.
“Trying to make sure we had enough feed was our biggest concern for our cattle to get them through the winter,” he said. “The crops were poor, which also compounded the issue.”
Bouchard said last year, he had to buy feed and grain to get his herd through winter due to dry pastures, and even sold some cattle to make it through.
However, with the high volume of snow Manitoba has received this winter, things are looking up.
“The last few winters, we haven’t had so much snow, so this is a good start,” Bouchard said. “We had a large dump in November, and lots melted into the ground, and then what we’ve had over the winter is definitely going to help.”
Carson Callum, president of the Manitoba Beef Producers, agreed the heavy snowfall will definitely help producers.
“We’re still going to need some important, timely rains through the summer like we always do; however, I’m feeling a lot more comfortable looking out there and seeing the snow on the ground,” he said.
Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP) also say the current trend is encouraging for production of grans and oil seeds.
“We’ll just have to see how spring melt happens, and hopefully we do get some runoff to replenish our lakes, streams and rivers,” said Bill Campbell, president of KAP.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trudeau acknowledges charges in Nijjar killing, calls for commitment to democracy
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has acknowledged the charges laid Friday in relation to the murder of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Bodies recovered in Mexico likely 2 Australians, 1 American who went missing: officials
Three bodies recovered in an area of Baja California are likely to be those of the two Australians and an American who went missing last weekend during a camping and surfing trip, the state prosecutor’s office said Saturday.
Princess Anne lays wreath at B.C. veteran's cemetery; receives 21-gun salute
Princess Anne paid tribute to veterans buried at a cemetery in British Columbia today, laying a wreath to honour the more than 2,500 military personnel and family members buried there.
Mystik Dan wins the 150th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in a three-horse photo finish
Mystik Dan won the 150th Kentucky Derby in a photo finish, edging out Forever Young and Sierra Leone for the upset victory.
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
Work stoppage possible as WestJet issues lockout notice to maintenance engineers' union
A lockout notice issued by WestJet to a union representing aircraft maintenance engineers could result in a work stoppage next week.
London Drugs begins 'gradual reopening' on 7th day after cyberattack
Almost a week after all London Drugs stores across Western Canada abruptly closed amid a cyberattack, they began a "gradual reopening" on Saturday.