Photo courtesy of Bob Schneider

By Scott Roblin

Planting with a wish and prayer

Farmers weighing canola conundrum with spring seeding underway

Apr 25, 2019 | 2:25 PM

CYPRESS COUNTY, AB – It’s a spring tradition Bradley Betcker and his family have become accustomed to over the years, seeding tens of thousands of acres at the T Bar Cattle Company southwest of Medicine Hat.

However, this spring they waited a little longer hoping the sky would open up before the ground was tilled.

“We held off a little bit and then we were kind of hoping for a little bit of moisture,” said Betcker. “It didn’t come, but there is decent moisture in the ground right now.”

Over 6,600 acres of peas, lentils, wheat, and corn are starting to be planted in the ground at T Bar.

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As for an expected cash crop this growing season, Betcker said he isn’t holding his breath due to current prices.

“Everything is looking roughly the same right now,” he said. “Nothing is standing out for a crop that you should just jump into and start seeding.”

There is also an air of uncertainly surrounding the Canadian canola market.

There’s been roughly a ten percent drop in the price of canola as a result of China’s decision to block multiple shipments of Canadian canola from entering the country. Saskatchewan is also pushing Ottawa for help, with Premier Scott Moe writing another letter asking for an increase to cash advances for producers.

While Betcker has decided to seed canola on irrigation, he is cutting back compared to previous years.

“We’re actually going to go down about 15 percent on our canola and it will be mainly [removed] on the dry land, because it is a little bit drier,” he said.

And according to Betcker, producers without the use of irrigation could be in a tougher boat when it comes to canola.

“Fourty dollars might be the only margin you have and then you have no margin left or a loss,” he said, “So, I think on the dry land the guys will be cutting it back quite a bit on.”

That’s the case for Burdett farmer Allen Kuizenga, who has taken canola completely out of his dry land rotation for the year.

Kuizenga said it’s just not worth putting in the effort for a crop that isn’t guaranteed to sell well come the fall.

“The prices are coming down and it’s already an expensive crop to grow on dry land, and the returns just aren’t there,” said Kuizenga.

He is acknowledging cutting canola could bring some risks, including possible disease introduction.

“You can’t grow wheat on wheat continuous or you run into disease pressures,” he said. “Taking the canola out is a bit of a decision, yeah.”

Early growing conditions for canola are holding steady, despite the region not receiving much in the way of rainfall recently.

Between March 23 and April 23, Medicine Hat received 12 millimetres of rainfall which has been just enough to get farmers started.

But according to Betcker, much more will be needed.

“At least an inch of moisture right away would be nice,” he said. “And then, get a half inch or an inch in a week or two going forward.”

Like he does every year, Betcker said he’ll now put the fate of his yield in the hands of mother nature, hoping for the best.

“Go forward, go straight, keep with the program, and carry on,” he said.