By Alice McFarlane

Agriculture Roundup for Friday July 16, 2021

Jul 16, 2021 | 9:42 AM

MELFORT, Sask. – Alberta Beef Producers (ABP) said government action is needed on drought relief in order to save the herd.

ABP chair and cattle producer Melanie Wowk said the lack of moisture and extremely high temperatures are decimating pasture and crop acres.

“Hay production is severely reduced, and water resources are dwindling,” Wowk said in a media release.

Wowk and other ABP delegates are meeting regularly with government officials to discuss drought relief options.

“We are now considering liquidating a portion of the herd, but the widespread nature of the drought is already making this difficult,” she said.

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Wowk said ABP is working closely with Canadian Cattlemen’s Association, and all the western provinces to support producers as quickly as possible. She said producers need to do their part and contact municipalities to increase awareness.

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With large areas of Canada and the Northern Great Plains facing mild to severe drought livestock producers have concerns about how they can provide adequate feed for their animals.

Some ranchers may be considering non-traditional feed for cattle.

The Beef Cattle Research Council (BCRC) will be hosting a webinar later this month to answer some of those questions.

BCRC said if producers are considering grazing something new, questioning water quality, and wondering about animal health concerns they should be watching out for, considering purchasing greenfeed from non-traditional crops, or have general questions about managing cattle during a drought, this is a chance to get answers straight from the experts.

The webinar on July 27 will include a panel of nutrition and animal health specialists.

There will be some time for Q and A during the live webinar but the best option for having questions answered is to submit them ahead of time by including them in the question box at the time of registration or by emailing info@beefresearch.ca with the subject title Drought Webinar.

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Federal, provincial, and territorial agriculture ministers met by video conference yesterday to address several issues including the dry conditions on the prairies.

There is concern for farmers and workers dealing with the current heat waves, wildfires and drought in Western Canada and other regions of the country.

Other topics included the next Agricultural Policy Framework, which will be the successor to the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, which expires on March 31, 2023, prevention of and preparedness for the threat posed by African Swine Fever, and potential long-term improvements to the suite of Business Risk Management programs.

The discussion was a lead-up to the agriculture ministers schedule for September in Guelph, Ont.

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alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @farmnewsNOW