39 Rural Municipalities declare disasters because of drought

Aug 08, 2023

Rural areas in Saskatchewan are grappling with the effects of a harsh drought, leading to 39 rural areas declaring farming disasters.

The President of the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM), Ray Orb, has been actively addressing this issue.

He has made on-site assessments, had discussions with rural area officials, and participated in townhall meetings hosted by the Saskatchewan Cattlemen's Association (SCA).

As crops wither and livestock producers face challenges, SARM is closely monitoring the situation.

Orb acknowledged the urgency for assistance and called for unity between grain and cattle farmers.

While short-term support efforts are in motion, SARM is collaborating with organizations like the SCA and Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association to establish more robust forage insurance programs.

Additionally, discussions with the federal government about AgriRecovery are underway.

Orb remains cautiously optimistic about federal aid, emphasizing the importance of timely solutions. One potential long-term remedy under consideration is the Lake Diefenbaker Irrigation Project.

Orb plans to discuss this with ministers in Ottawa, aiming to secure funding for the project.

In the midst of adversity, collaboration and timely solutions are crucial for the survival of Saskatchewan's agriculture.

Video: A chain harrow is a game changer

Utilizing a rotational grazing method on our farmstead with our sheep helps to let the pasture/paddocks rest. We also just invested in a chain harrow to allow us to drag the paddocks our sheep just left to break up and spread their manure around, dethatch thicker grass areas, and to rough up bare dirt areas to all for a better seed to soil contact if we overseed that paddock. This was our first time really using the chain harrow besides initially testing it out. We are very impressed with the work it did and how and area that was majority dirt, could be roughed up before reseeding.

Did you know we also operate a small business on the homestead. We make homemade, handcrafted soaps, shampoo bars, hair and beard products in addition to offering our pasture raised pork, lamb, and 100% raw honey. You can find out more about our products and ingredients by visiting our website at www.mimiandpoppysplace.com. There you can shop our products and sign up for our monthly newsletter that highlights a soap or ingredient, gives monthly updates about the homestead, and also lists the markets, festivals, and events we’ll be attending that month.