University Forms Drought Committee to Aid Agricultural Producers

Posted June 06, 2002


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - June 6, 2002 2002-06-04-AG

University Forms Drought Committee to Aid Agricultural Producers

The University of Saskatchewan views the current drought situation as a very
critical issue for everyone living in Saskatchewan. In response to this
increasingly urgent provincial drought situation, the U of S has struck a
drought committee to provide drought-related information to the Saskatchewan
agribusiness community.

This widespread environmental disaster has prompted the University of
Saskatchewan Drought Committee to provide information to assist the
province's agricultural community. This information will be available
through a website, located at http://drought.usask.ca which will provide
timely and topical information bulletins. Staff members will also answer
producers' questions via e-mail and telephone.

At http://drought.usask.ca, users will be able to find informational
resources related to drought management, contact information for reaching
staff at the University, links to existing resources on the Internet, and a
question and answer forum, where members of the College of Agriculture and
other colleges at the University will answer submitted questions.

In addition to the website, the committee plans to inform the public, on a
weekly basis, of pressing issues that need to be considered by producers.
This information will be reported on the website and released to the media
each Wednesday. The first topics will include "Using annual cereals to
supplement summer and fall grazing and winter forage supplies," and "Fallow
management in drought conditions."

Ernie Barber, Dean of the College of Agriculture, has identified the drought
situation as a priority for staff, and has urged the co-operation of all
faculty to assist farmers in coping with these conditions.

Saskatchewan is experiencing some of the driest conditions on record. The
Saskatchewan cow calf herd is being sold off, as farmers' failed pastures
and dried up dugouts have left farmers unable to pay for feed and water
supplies. In many areas, crops have been seeded into dry soil conditions and
those crops that have emerged are parched and under severe water stress.

Farmers in the hardest hit areas are already considering crop insurance
usage as well as reseeding or fallow options. If this drought persists, it
will lead to further liquidation of Saskatchewan's cattle herd, failed
crops, and continued financial hardship for farmers, ranchers, and the
businesses and communities dependant upon their prosperity.

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For more information, please contact:

Steve Shirtliffe
Department of Plant Science
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-4959

Ken Rosaasen
Department of Agricultural Economics
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-4017

Ernie Barber
Dean, College of Agriculture
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-7881
or visit http://drought.usask.ca