Greenfeed Deadline Extended in Saskatchewan; Ag Ministers Monitoring Dry Conditions

Photo: Debra Murphy, 2015

Saskatchewan farmers have an extra 15 days to plant greenfeed crops and still receive crop insurance coverage. The federal and provincial agriculture ministers announced the deadline has been pushed back from June 30th to July 15th in hopes it will help mitigate a potential feed shortage.

“The lack of moisture through the spring and so far this growing season has severely reduced the hay and forage crops in many parts of the province,” said provincial Ag Minister Lyle Stewart on July 2nd.  “By being flexible with existing programs, we are hoping to help producers source the feed they need for their livestock.” (continued…)

The latest hay and pasture topsoil moisture map from Saskatchewan's Ministry of Agriculture (click to enlarge).

The latest hay and pasture topsoil moisture map from Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Agriculture (click to enlarge).

Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation is prioritizing calls from producers who say they’d like to graze or cut annual crops for feed, says Stewart in the above video.

“What can be done reasonably is being done, and I’d urge producers to remember our feed and forage listing service. That can be a help in locating feed early,” he notes.

Ritz points out “drought is nothing new for Saskatchewan.”

“We go through it from time to time,” says Saskatchewan’s regional minister at the federal level. “The biggest concern we’re looking at right now are the pastures and forage. That’s going to be the first more problematic issue.”

While the Saskatchewan Pasture Program is at maximum capacity, the provincial ag ministry has requested that other organizations open up conservation lands for grazing or salvaging of forage. The province is also allowing sub-leasing of Crown land.

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