27 Story Idea? Email Paul.Nolan@Farms.com Better Farming | February 2024 Drought It should come as no surprise that drought is one of the biggest reasons behind producers not holding back heifers. Alberta and Saskatchewan, worst hit by drought in 2023, are Canada’s largest cattle producing provinces, representing nearly 80 per cent of the national cattle inventory. Alberta’s agriculture department in late 2023 reported long-running moisture deficits causing dwindling surface water supplies and poor growth in both native and planted perennial species. Moisture deficits in the province occurred in much of its southern, central and Peace Regions, with all of them having moisture deficits on tracts of land that occur less than once in 50 years. Similarly, Saskatchewan’s Water Security Agency reported hot and dry conditions throughout summer and fall, resulting in most areas of the province going into winter with soil moisture that’s below to well-below normal. Surface water supplies are at risk in the southwest if winter snowfall is below average, and, in some cases, above- normal snowpack is necessary to avoid extremely dry conditions, the agency said. Feed Feed represents the highest input cost for many livestock operations, and drought had the effect of deteriorating pasture conditions and lowering volumes of local cereal feeds. Many producers were forced to either transport purchased feeds and forages or wean calves and cull cattle instead. Copithorne says pastures and water systems are tired or depleted from drought, and that many ranchers are looking to give their pastures a rest and let them rejuvenate. He also points to a shortage of forage and grasslands. “So much land has been converted to other uses that forage and grasslands are at a premium and hard to find,” Copithorne says. “It’s hard to expand if you can’t find grazing lands or feed to expand on.” Perillat says the open and mild fall and the potential of El Niño to exacerbate 2023’s drought added to farmers’ worries about what’s in store for next year’s grazing season, and receiving adequate runoff to replenish watering holes, which continued to get lower or dried out completely last fall. Anne Wasko, market analyst for Gateway Livestock Exchange, says farmers will need to see more than just the odd timely rain in 2024 to change their minds about retaining heifers. “Herd decisions are generally made once a year for the following year, so decisions have already been made for 2024,” she says. “Rains need to happen next year for different decisions to be made for 2025 and beyond.” Copithorne adds ranchers are hesitant to expand until their weather concerns are alleviated. But he anticiRebuilding beef cattle herds 23_001099_Jars_MultiGrain_HalfHoriz_US Mod: September 25, 2023 11:31 AM Print: 09/25/23 page 1 v2.5 πJARS AND JUGS ALWAYS IN STOCK COMPLETE CATALOG 1-800-295-5510 uline.ca ORDER BY 6 PM FOR SAME DAY SHIPPING
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