A rural municipality in southwest Saskatchewan has declared a local state of emergency amid the worst drought conditions the region has seen in nearly a decade, as crops wither and livestock operations face increasing strain.
The RM of Big Stick, located near the Alberta border approximately 300 kilometres southwest of Saskatoon, is sounding the alarm as parched fields and dying plants mark the ninth consecutive year of drought for the area. Officials warn that other municipalities may soon follow suit as the crisis deepens across the region.
"This is year nine of a drought for us," said Quinton Jacksteit, reeve of the RM and a longtime grain farmer. "Our crops, they're desperate for rainfall. Some of our early crops, like our barley, it's dying in the field as we speak."
Jacksteit said the emergency declaration is intended to prompt urgent attention from the provincial government and open the door for discussions around enhanced financial aid for struggling producers.
"It’s probably the worst, simply because we're in the middle of June and we're already writing crops off," he explained. "Like, this shouldn't be happening at this stage."
Despite some hope for incoming rain, Jacksteit said the toll has already been taken on many farms.
"Even if the rain comes now, the damage is done," he said. "It's hard to have that optimism anymore. I see it in my neighbours — it's very stressful, and there's a lot of hurt."
Jacksteit warned that without a viable harvest, the financial repercussions will be severe.
"We need a crop because this year there's going to be financial losses, and they're going to be significant," he added.
The RM’s move reflects a growing concern among prairie producers as climate-related challenges continue to upend traditional farming expectations. Local leaders hope the declaration will serve as a wake-up call and lead to tangible provincial support before conditions worsen further.