Western Cdn. farmers look to 2019

Dec 31, 2018

Producers want holiday time and government action

By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com

As 2018 enters its final hours, Farms.com reached out to members of Western Canada’s ag community to find out if they’ve made any resolutions for 2019.

For Denis Guindon, a canola producer from Falher, Alta., making time for a holiday could be a priority.

“We’re in the process of planning a (family) vacation for some time in 2019,” he told Farms.com. “It would be nice if those plans could come to fruition and we can take some time to get away.”

Lee Moats, a cash crop grower from Riceton, Sask., is also planning a family holiday.

“We are hoping to go to Italy,” he told Farms.com. “We’ve been there a few times before. It’s a wonderful place and we look forward to going back.”

From a legislative standpoint, Moats wants to see the feds move ahead with plans to support the ag industry.

“I sat on the Economic Strategy Table for agriculture and agri-food,” he said. “I’d like our federal government to put implementation plans into the budget to help bring our recommendations to life.”

Members of the Economic Strategy Table put forward targets of increasing domestic ag sales to $140 billion by 2025 and increasing ag exports to $85 billion by 2025.

Other farmers are hoping 2019 will bring needed good weather for strong crop and hay yields.

Manitoba producers experienced dry conditions during 2018. Timely rains and snow would be beneficial for her cattle, said Dianne Ridling, a beef producer from Lake Francis, Man.

“If you talk to anyone in our region, they’d like to see a lot more snow and moisture,” she told Farms.com. “We need the moisture so our dugouts fill up and so we can have grass and hay next year.”

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