Grainswest - Spring 2024

Spring 2024 Grains West 6 Asplashofhope EARLY IN THE 2023 GROWING SEASON, A SOUTHWEST Alberta farmer told GrainsWest a portion of her crop had failed to germinate. Though impacts this severe were not the Alberta norm, drought conditions continue to loom over Canadian farm country like a dark cloud that refuses to produce rain. Drought was not the main topic, but it was the elephant in the room at the Irrigated Crop Production Update presented by Lethbridge College at the Lethbridge Agri-food Hub and Trade Centre in late January. The day’s presenters all made mention of that proverbial pachyderm. An early speaker grumbled about the media’s use of the word “dire” to describe moisture conditions, but also admitted it’s a serious matter that shouldn’t be downplayed. The comment struck a chord, and it was referenced by successive speakers. Everyone in the room, it seemed, was thirsty for a hopeful note. EDITOR’S MESSAGE “From the news you’d think we’re all going to die,” said Richard Phillips, general manager of the Bow River Irrigation District. His objective look at irrigation data across his 24 seasons with the organization contrasted the prevailing gloom. Alberta’s 57 reservoirs supply much of the water used by the irrigation system. Though total winter water storage in provin- cial reservoirs sits at 65 per cent of the norm, they are fuller than they were following the very dry 2021 crop year. Modern- ization efforts that include pipeline installation and adoption of new equipment by farmers have made irrigation more effi- cient. While the system operated with 81 per cent efficiency in 2020, it is projected to hit 85 per cent by 2025/26. On average, irrigation districts use just 70 per cent of their licensed water allocations. This past year, as in most, noted Phillips, Alberta sent surplus water supply downstream to Saskatchewan. Later the same month, at the CrossRoads Crop Conference, agricultural meteorologist Drew Lerner pinpointed hope in pos- itive weather data. He acknowledged the drought is a serious, continent-wide problem, but noted long-term weather patterns point in the right direction. “2024 is going to be a better year on the Prairies,” he said. “All you need is timely precipitation to bring in a crop.” El Niño may dissipate in spring, and if this co- incides with the rise of a La Niña cycle, moisture is typically in the cards for Western Canada. The long-term data also suggest moist conditions are likely in fall of 2024, he added. “There’s hope here … for better precipitation.” Hope plus supportive data doesn’t equal rain, but it does deliver a drink of relief. ON THE COVER It’s a worrying statistic about a subject that has recently gener- ated much discussion across the Canadian agriculture indus- try. According to a recent RBC study, 66 per cent of Canadian farmers do not have a farm succession plan in place. It may seem a daunting task, as it did for the Duncans, but it is also a necessary one that can create peace of mind. In “Just do it” (pg. 26), Sylvan Lake area farmer Dennis Duncan (pictured on the cover) and daughter Shelby Lethbridge tell the story of the family’s successful succession planning process. For additional information on the subject, listen to The GrainsWest Podcast episode, “Farm succession planning: experience and advice” at grainswest.com or wherever you access your favourite podcasts. In this episode, Trevor Bacque talks to Duncan and Mohamad Yaghi, lead author of the RBC report that addresses farm labour and focuses heavily on farm succession. KǀĞƌ ϯϬ LJĞĂƌƐ ŽĨ ĞdžƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞ ƉĂƌƚŶĞƌŝŶŐ ǁŝƚŚ ŝŶĚŝǀŝĚƵĂůƐ ƚŽ ƚƵƌŶ ƚŚĞŝƌ ĂƐƐĞƚƐ ŝŶƚŽ ĐĂƐŚ͊ ✓ Equipment ✓ Land ✓ Real-Estate Satisfaction Guaranteed www.auctions.ca 780-440-1075 The Place to Buy & Sell