By Sheila Phibbs
The Haldimand Press
HALDIMAND—In almost any conversation this spring, there have been complaints about the weather. But what is mainly an inconvenience to most, is a matter of livelihood to farmers. With excessive rain and cooler temperatures, spring planting has been delayed across the province. Adding to the pressure of wet conditions are the looming deadlines for planting that have farmers modifying plans and working round the clock just to get the seeds in the ground.
Ideally, those seeds are in the ground by June 15 and 30, the planting deadlines for corn and soybeans, and coloured and white beans, respectively, in order to be eligible for Production Insurance from Agricorp. Many insurance plans include an unseeded acreage benefit (USAB) which compensates customers if they are not able to plant their intended crop by the planting deadline. These payments can help offset financial burdens such as fixed costs and land maintenance.
In response to the wet conditions, Agricorp extended deadlines to June 17 and July 5. A June 13 Agricorp news update indicated that, with the extension, “USAB is still available providing customers with compensation and options that can add flexibility to their business decisions.” Customers will also have more time to report their unseeded acres and include them with their final planted acres report.
While these extensions have granted extra time, the long-term concerns remain. According to Kim Turnbull, who farms in Canfield, “The corn may not have the opportunity to mature for a grain crop at this late date, but it may be okay if the intention is for corn silage.” He also suggests that soybeans would have less than seven weeks of growth and, with more adverse weather, plants may not be very tall, producing fewer flowers and pods and, therefore, compromised yields.
For Turnbull, this disappointing year for crops actually started last fall. He explains, “The wheat crop that was planted after mid-October did not get off to a good start. That, along with the crappy winter weather, left many wheat acres in poor shape this spring.” Many wheat fields have been written off and sprayed with the intention of planting another crop. Turnbull says they recently decided not to plant corn due to the rain. They had planned to plant 175 acres of corn, 335 acres of soybeans, 75 acres of oats, and 145 acres of hay. As of June 9, 170 acres of soybeans had been planted with the hopes of doing more over the following week. He notes that they had 130 acres of wheat.
Fisherville dairy farmer Lori Winger operates Keylas Farms Ltd. with her parents, Doug and Diane. Hay is a mainstay crop for dairy farms and Winger simply states that this year, “The hay is not good.” She explains that partial winter kill affected the crop and they were only able to fill one of their two silos. She notes, “It took forever to fill it.” In fact, it took twice as many acres of hay to fill the silo as it did last year.
For Winger, a key to farming is, “Trying to switch gears to adapt. Adapting is what you have to do.” This year, adapting involves leaving the remaining first cut hay to be used for dry bails and waiting for second cut hay to fill the smaller silo. She concedes they haven’t planted a single acre of corn and at least six days of dry, warm weather is needed to get the corn in the ground. To compensate, her sister and brother-in-law have no-tilled corn into a bean field so there will be access to corn for the cows. In spite of the conditions, Winger takes things in stride saying, “The good thing about a dairy farm is there is always something to be working on.”
Hagersville chicken and beef farmer Henk Lise, President of the Haldimand Federation of Agriculture (HFA), recognizes the pressures of the 2019 planting season: “It’s a frustrating year; some are getting ahead, and others aren’t.” While some farmers may be done planting, they have also had to plow under a poor wheat crop. He says, “Most farmers you talk to are dealing with it. They know some things are out of their control.” He believes that, with the planting deadline extension, some farmers may still plant their crops and hope for a good fall.
Lise is especially concerned about the stress many farmers are feeling and encourages them to reach out and ask for help if needed. This sentiment is echoed by Will Stoneman, Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) Member Service Representative to Brant, Haldimand and Norfolk. He says, “Number one on the list for OFA is how our members are doing mentally.” The OFA website (ofa.on.ca) has links to hotlines and resources to assist members.
Stoneman reports that OFA talks regularly with Agricorp and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs about the conditions affecting planting throughout the province. He notes, “There are not many counties that are not affected by the bad weather.”
As someone who also farms in Haldimand, he understands the pressure of the deadlines, “If you can’t get the crop in, it’s a tough situation.” OFA will continue to consult with Agricorp regarding programs that can assist farmers.
No matter what the season, tough situations are nothing new to farmers; weather is just one of the many challenges that impact their daily lives and ultimately their livelihood. Passion for what they do is what fuels their resilience, enabling them to adapt and persevere. Whether growing crops for people or for livestock, farmers have proven time and again that they will do whatever it takes to get those seeds into the ground.
