Manitoba farmers optimistic about 2023 after challenging few years – Winnipeg | 24CA News
Manitoba farmers have had a tough couple of years, between environmental disasters and pandemic challenges, however there’s much more optimism for the 2023 season.
“We had three years of drought, a worsening drought every year, and then the heavy, heavy snowfall of the previous winter,” stated Trevor Sund, a Manitoba beef producer.
“We were so wet in the spring and people were having so much trouble fighting the mud in a way that we haven’t had before. And so it was a very challenging time, very tough time.”
Additionally, inflation has hit agriculture exhausting with ranchers having to take care of excessive gas prices.
“Everything requires transportation and it requires fuel to harvest the feed and put the feed up, just to bring in supplies,” Sund stated.
Meanwhile, the poultry business had related stresses. On a southeastern Manitoba farm with 30,000 chickens, farmer Evy Wiebe noticed her prices go up.
“We’ve noticed an increase in the cost of production with natural gas because we do have to heat our barns in winter. So that is an additional cost.” Wiebe stated.
And on an egg farm simply exterior of Winnipeg hen feed has change into costlier.
“There have been cost increases for most people which is then passed down partially to our consumer,” stated Sanda Dyck, a Manitoba egg farmer.
This yr, farmers are maintaining an in depth eye on avian flu however total they’ve a distinct outlook for the New Year.
“We’ve had a little bit of avian influenza and some of the disease from the migrating birds.” Said Wiebe.
And egg farmers are excited in regards to the improve in egg consumption.
“The future is looking really bright. So we’re really, really excited about increases, about people really using it for all meals of the day, not just for breakfast food.” stated Dyck.
At one Manitoba ranch calving season is underway and the bottom is displaying indicators of grass development.
“The future is looking good as far as calf prices this fall and everyone is kind of breathing a sigh of relief that everything is going back to normal.” stated Sund.
Despite the various challenges these within the area have confronted it has not impacted their ardour for the business.
“The future is bright. We’re pretty optimistic. We’re very hopeful. And yeah, it’s a great industry, and agriculture as a whole is a great industry to be a part of,” stated Dyck.
“We have our challenges just like everything else but the community here and the support we feel and the support for each other is really beneficial.”
— With recordsdata from Global’s Teagan Rasche
© 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
