By Alice McFarlane

Agriculture Roundup for Wednesday December 16, 2020

Dec 16, 2020 | 11:04 AM

MELFORT, Sask. – There has been increased interest in the Advance Payments Program.

Canadian Canola Growers Association (CCGA) administers the program.

CCGA director of Finance & Operations Dave Gallant said the reduced interest rate was a contributing factor.

“On $1 million, your blended rate is 1.53 per cent. If you’re borrowing, even at prime, that’s going to save you almost $10,000 per year,” Gallant said. “If you’re borrowing at prime plus a half, that almost $15,000 of savings per year.”

Gallant said another contributing factor is the increase in program size from $400,000 in 2019 to $1 million.

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He said the program is over $200 million ahead of a normal year’s pace.

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Saskatchewan has entered the winter drier than normal.

Water Security Agency freeze-up report said severe dry conditions were reported east of Gravelbourg and south of Yorkton with some smaller water reservoirs and dugouts with diminished supply and quality.

The exception was in the extreme southwest and northern portions of the grain belt where conditions are near normal.

Above-normal snowfall will likely be needed in southern regions for sufficient runoff to replenish surface water supplies in the spring.

Long-range forecasts suggest above-normal precipitation and below-normal temperatures over the winter months in Saskatchewan.

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Many areas of Manitoba are short on snow and that could pose a problem for the province’s winter wheat crop.

Doug Martin with the Manitoba Crop Alliance said he isn’t too concerned yet.

Manitoba Agriculture monitors the soil temperature in winter wheat fields. Martin said winter kill occurs when soil temperatures hit minus 20 Celsius. He said more snow cover would be welcomed.

Martin said dry conditions last fall resulted in uneven germination.

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alice.mcfarlane@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @AliceMcF