Row, Row, Row Your Boat, Gently Down the Stream

Merrily, Merrily, Merrily, Merrily, Life is But a Dream!

I am afraid life is anything but a dream for farmers and ranchers in southern Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Most of us are up to our elbows in water, mud and all the unspeakables associated therewith (like, say, those friggin' MOSQUITOES!). This abundance of water, while not quite of biblical proportions yet, causes some major headaches for rural people.

First and foremost, the good people, who, at this very moment, are trying to get their seed in the ground in attempts to grow wheat, barley, rye, corn, flax, oats, peas, sunflowers, potatoes, sugar beets, and such are unable to do so. The fields are too wet to put heavy machinery on, and a stuck tractor is no good for anybody. The mud also keeps the ground relatively cool for this time of year, which can slow or even prevent germination of any seed that may have already been sown. These problems will translate to small yields this fall, which will increase commodity price. That price will be offset by the consumer later this year, so be prepared for the price of everything to got up.

Second, most rural roads are dirt ( "You know you're a redneck when... Directions to your house include 'Turn off the paved road.'"). I am sure we all know about the massive sinkhole that opened up last year, right underneath the Trans-Canada Highway in Saskatchewan. Now, imagine all that water washing out road, after road, after road, after road in some rural area. These washouts are occurring in areas where six foot culverts have been placed, but even those are too small to channel all the water through under the roads. When roads are cut out, transportation of anything becomes extremely difficult. Boats are required to go to town for basics, equipment never leaves the yard, and, most importantly, emergency crews cannot access homes in times of need.

For sure, water, while it brings the blessings of rapid growth and green pastures, is just as powerful and damaging as a prolonged and severe drought. To contrast our wet and wild ways, Texas is having one of the driest spells on record. Rainfall is as much as 20 inches below normal, and there are parts of the state that haven't had rain in almost eight months. Pastures are dead, crops are refusing to grow, and the summer hasn't even reached its peak yet. No matter where you are, the weather will always control agriculture. http://tamunews.tamu.edu/2011/06/07/texas-drought-continues-to-set-records-no-relief-in-sight/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+tamuNewsFull+%28TAMU+News+Articles%29