A storm rolled through the region on Tuesday providing some much needed precipitation. Unfortunately for too many producers, any amount of rain likely won't be able to salvage a strong 2023 growing season.
The Government of Saskatchewan is busy once again this year crafting supports to give farmers alternative options with their crops. Back on July 12, both the federal and provincial governments shared they would provide additional support for producers.
After sharing the release, West Central Online reached out to Biggar-Sask Valley MLA Randy Weekes to discuss the topic at hand.
"This drought is very real. It's affecting producers there is no doubt about it."
Weekes talked about how the Government is responding to the drought situation by reinstating many of the programs that were offered last year.
"To allow grain farmers to take their crop early, and have livestock producers use that feed. They can graze, or cut the crop early. That was the one incentive that came out on July 12, allowing producers to make timely decisions to make feed additional feed available to graze, bale, or silage." said Weekes as producers have had about a week now to look that incentive over.
Weekes shared that another key option could be coming down the pipe as well. Agriculture minister David Marit is meeting with his counterparts and Saskatchewan will be bringing a proposal to the table.
"Open up the Agri-recovery assessment to allow early designation for the tax deferral program. That is important if producers have to start selling their livestock early. You don't want to put them in a huge tax problem, so that is the request (from Marit) to allow that deferral program so producers can make some good business decisions not based on the tax system."
Weekes' riding is just one piece of a large, dry puzzle around west-central Saskatchewan.
"It's a real issue, that's for sure. Just talking to a few people along the way; Dundurn, Kenaston, down to Outlook, across to Rosetown, then into the Kerrobert/Kindersley area, southwest Saskatchewan into southern Alberta. This is a large area suffering from drought, and unfortunately it's not the first year either."
Policy work is a big part of being an MLA, but the most important aspect of the job is still listening to constituents. Weekes talked to one West Central farmer who applied for crop insurance for the third straight growing season.
"That's pretty serious."
The Government will continue doing their best to give farmers a fair shake during these trying times. It's a good thing these supports exist in attempt to salvage growing seasons here in Saskatchewan, but as Weekes' put it, "there is no substitute for a good crop".