weather

[farmaholic]

I can't imagine why people can't realize we are farming in different soil zones and those zones exist because of environmental and moisture conditions......

There's a saying about walking a mile.......

I do understand, there is no debate from me....we all know what we want....but obviously don't always get it.

[helmsdale]

Lol. Exactly.
Ever been unable to seed because of too dry?
Had 6 bushel canola because of too dry?
Had to dry that 6 bushel canola because of too dry?
Had to leave crop over winter because of too dry?
Wrecked machinery from pulling it out because of too dry?
Had nitrogen leaching because of too dry?
Been unable to spray because of too dry?
Been unable to work outside most of the summer because of too dry?

If you ain’t experienced the misery of too wet, it is hard to even fathom. I would far rather have too dry.

I will gladly concede too wet sucks. Perhaps everyone that thinks one sucks worse than the other needs to swap farms for a year... each brings their own loveable side effects.

I've always been able to seed because of too dry, but have watched it blow away after disturbing the soil.

I've seen worse than 6bu canola because of too dry. I've seen canola fields that look like great chemfallow.

Drought can end in late august/September and tough grain can and has been an issue.

Have seen $100,000 work orders on combines that are gutted from front to back chasing a crop that's just above your ankle bone.

I've had nitrogen volatilization because of too dry, and significant nitrogen crop burn because of too dry.

Have suffered heat stroke from working outside when it's hot and dry.

I've watched insects clean a shit crop from fenceline to fenceline because it's too dry.

I've had well established trees in yards die because of too dry.

Hauling water from rivers miles away to dehydrated cattle.

Water wells that run dry.

Uncontrollable wild fires.

Etc etc etc...

Extremes suck ass.

Not picking on you in any way sheepwheat, just liked your point for point list and didn't want to roll between tabs on a dumbphone.

Like farma said, about walking in others shoes. I have a tremendous amount of empathy for guys in the wet zone, and surely wouldn't want to be in that boat. I am sure there's plenty of empathy for those in the dry zone, just remember you truly don't want to have to wear those shoes either.

[sumdumguy]

Lol. Exactly.
Ever been unable to seed because of too dry?
Had 6 bushel canola because of too dry?
Had to dry that 6 bushel canola because of too dry?
Had to leave crop over winter because of too dry?
Wrecked machinery from pulling it out because of too dry?
Had nitrogen leaching because of too dry?
Been unable to spray because of too dry?
Been unable to work outside most of the summer because of too dry?

If you ain’t experienced the misery of too wet, it is hard to even fathom. I would far rather have too dry.

Well Sheepwheat, we plowed down every acre of cropin 1980 except for 1 summerfallow field of registered Laird lentils that cost us $1.20/ lb. to seed. We ctually lost fields to volls that wintered over in Canary straw in 1986. I hate drought but I know that water logged ground chokes the roots too. Too much of either is not fun, but farmers are resilient and we do what we can playing the cards that are dealt to us or we move on to greener pastures.

[biglentil]

Too dry you die, too wet rice is nice.

[AlbertaFarmer5]

I would say That your opinion on too wet or too dry has a lot to do with how it diversified you are or aren't. With Livestock or hay, there's almost always a silver lining in excess moisture. With grain, at least around here, drought is usually a blessing.

Depends if you're a glass half full or half empty type. With enough irons in the fire, There will always be something to be happy about or depressed about.

[furrowtickler]

I see The weather network just updated a potential flood risk for same areas in the prairies this weekend through Sunday ...

[seldomseen]

To dry or to wet neither is good but all I know for me the wet years you work so hard for so little and the dry years for me were just a breeze with better crops and better profits than I expect.

Farming in NE Sask I most likely don't understand real drought like some of you do.

I I should also mention if someone from a dry area saw the mosquitoes we had here the summer of 2016 I doubt you would live here.

[grassfarmer]

I agree 100%. Just like farmaholic advertises his Paradise as the slum of the ghetto to keep the rest of us away. This is all very marginal pasture land , We are hoping to expand the frost free grazing season from two weeks to three if global warming ever happens. The occasional wet years nine out of 10 are minor compared to the frosts. Much of it is better suited to cattle country, Which is why I still keep a hundred and some cows here , To make use of that and as insurance. But with my lack of math skills, I can't figure out how to pay for land using cattle. If Grass farmer had it figured out he would probably still be here too.

Don't need to make up stories to keep people away from that frost pocket. I've got the photos somewhere of me lifting a skin of ice off the dog's water bowl on Canada day 2009 and the neighbours drought salvaged barley swaths with snow on them August 4th 2003 or the 40 quarters they got hailed on in 2009.
Awesome grass growing area but extremely marginal grain country. Cattle not paying for the land had nothing to do with me moving to Manitoba.

[AlbertaFarmer5]

Thanks for helping my cause Grassfarmer. Where exactly were you at? West of Rimbey? I'm an hour South of Rimbey. When I look at Google for drive around, I often wonder why there are pockets of farmland in pockets of bush and pasture in the west country( or north). Is it soil or climate? Where those areas homesteaded and given up on?

[furrowtickler]

I see The weather network just updated a potential flood risk for same areas in the prairies this weekend through Sunday ...

Looks like these guys called it first
Environment Can has nothing till a day or two ago.
It’s really starting to shake lose today.
Central Alberta gettin er now .
Looks very wet after this goes through
Hope everyone is caught up spraying , which was near impossible with these fukin strong SE winds every day here.
It could be a week before we get back at weed control.
Stay safe tonight everyone in Alberta / western Sask .......