WINNIPEG — A dozen Manitoba rural municipalities have declared a state of agricultural emergency over a severe drought in the province’s central region.
The municipalities, mostly in the Interlake and Parklands regions, declared the emergency after dry weather left producers unable to produce enough hay to feed their cattle.
In a statement, they say grain, hay and straw producers have faced severely reduced yields and pastures have also been damaged.
They say farmers are becoming increasingly desperate as they have to pay to transport hay or drill additional wells for water.
Some farmers are considering selling their livestock.
The municipalities want to meet with the province to talk about current subsidy programs, which they say are inadequate.
They urged local farmers with any extra hay to consider selling it to struggling producers.
(Global Winnipeg)