with the uncertainty that would have caused families and the threat of that conflict igniting a larger worldwide battle.
The COVID-19 pandemic has been a battle of a different kind, of course, one where the world allied in their efforts to deal with a disease that has killed thousands, 55 to-date in Saskatchewan.Fifty-five may not sound like a huge number. Still, with more than 100 in our hospitals, the health care system is being stretched rather tight, and were numbers to spike even higher, perhaps after people risk gatherings for the holidays, a health system wreck could be in the offing.As bad as COVID-19 has been, nearing 300,000 dead in the United States and more than 12,000 in Canada, it could be worse. The disease is hardest on the aged. If the death toll were among children, the effect on our public psyche would be much more significant.
So everyone, the farm community included, is looking forward to the end of 2020, forever known as the ‘Year of COVID’ with hopes 2021 will be better.Certainly, on the COVID front, there is an expectation of a vaccine in 2021, so that is positive.But, farmers might be facing another serious issue arising in the next year.
In a recent Western Producer story Drew Lerner, president of World Weather Inc. was quoted as stating, “We are overdue for a multi-year drought. I am totally convinced of that.” Now weather prognosticators aren’t always on target. Some might suggest the only reliable indication of the weather is to stick your head out the window, with any other forecast at best being a guess, albeit an educated guess, but anytime the word drought comes up, farmers naturally shudder. Farmers face a lot of challenges in an average year in terms of getting a crop to market. The annual production cycle is largely a minefield of obstacles to be avoided, or if they go off, then they are dealt with them.
There is spring frost, weeds, bugs and plant disease, too much heat, or not enough, and rain issues, followed by early fall frost, early snows, machinery breakdowns, and, of course, marketing challenges. Most can at least be dealt with, chemicals to kill bugs and disease and weeds, careful planning of planting to best avoid early frosts, etc. However, if the rains don’t come, the crop can easily be reduced, and in extreme drought conditions, a crop can be lost. Few things are thus scarier than the possibility of a multi-year drought, and if it arrives in 2021, it will impact Prairie farmers harder than the pandemic that has the world in its grip right now.
- Calvin Daniels
Comment on this article at lmtimes.ca/calvin
Disclaimer: opinions expressed are those of the writer.