Getting Ready to Sow

Spring

Perennials are popping through the soil and leaves are budding as temperatures in many areas of the province are rising this week. Planting will start soon and that means moisture levels are on the minds of many including farmers who are gearing up for the season. 

"I would say most producers are going to plant a crop regardless of moisture" Scott Jespersen, the vice-chair of Alberta Grains told The One News.   "Right now we're in good shape to get the crop started".  

Weather is an annual concern, which leaves farmers creating solutions in a way that mitigates the risk on their farms.   

"That's tough to do because you can't control the weather, so we just kind of roll with it," Jespersen admitted.

Another factor farmers can't control is carbon tax.   

"Every supplier, every manufacturer is able to pass that cost onto the next level. We as farmers cannot pass that cost on, it's something that is just takes a bite out of our profitability right off the bat," Jespersen said.

But he stressed farmers are resilient and they're used to juggling factors they can't control.

"Every farmer is very efficient at doing that."