Another light snowfall like we've gotten in early April just adds even more moisture for farmers to work with. (File photo/ Pattison media)

By Rob Mahon

Farmers on Snow

More snow, rain, good news for local farmers

Apr 5, 2022 | 10:54 AM

You may be just about snowed out after all the deposits we got this winter, but there are some in the Prince Albert area who are relieved to see the snow continuing into early April. For farmers, the snow and rain means an easier growing season than the one that followed last winter.

“We are ecstatic with what we see outside, even right now as we try to manage it,” said Tim Oleksyn, a partner with Oleksyn Brothers Farm. “I just got back from a road trip to Taber and Lethbridge country in Alberta… it just looks desolate compared to this part of the world.”

Even the southern part of Saskatchewan has already lost a great deal of their snowpack according to Environment Canada, so the lack of moisture isn’t unique to southern Alberta. A lot of snow melting slowly in the Prince Albert area means a lot better of a moisture situation here.

“We are sitting in a really good place,” Oleksyn said, “not only for the moisture on top of the ground but for the soil underneath. It isn’t frozen like it normally is and we’re getting a very slow soak in right now at this moment.”

The speed of the meltdown doesn’t matter to Oleksyn too much, as he’s heard different opinions on the subject from all over. The end result, however, is a lot more moisture ending up in dugouts and the water table.

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“Snow doesn’t usually make the crop, and yet it’s a hell of a beginning for pasture operations for sure for the fall ryes that we grow and some of those winter crops,” said Oleksyn. “And for recharging our whole system, which has been low.”

Oleksyn and his brothers produce everything from wheat to canola to peas to oats to beef. After a dry winter last year, and little relief in the spring and summer, this amount of snowfall has been a welcome sight.

“It just takes the pressure off,” Oleksyn said. “Keeping in mind that usually this time of year, right across the province, and through the western growing areas of our whole geographic set, there’s usually grain in the bins. This year, everybody’s bins are empty. The companies have been really quick to try to pick it up and to capture some of the prices.”

Oleksyn added the rain and even snow today were helpful for keeping that moisture up.

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rob.mahon@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @RobMahonPxP