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CBC
3 days ago
- Climate
- CBC
'As a farmer, it's depressing': Southwest Sask. sees less than 25% of normal rainfall in June
Several farmers in southwestern Saskatchewan say their crops are withering and dying before their eyes. In the rural municipality of Big Stick, there was a "half inch" of rain for the whole month, said Reeve Quinton Jacksteit, a longtime grain farmer. "As a farmer, it's depressing to go out into the hot, hot, windy days and then watch your crops deteriorate," he said. "There's really not a lot of optimism." His RM is among at least four others in the area — namely, the RMs of Maple Creek, Fox Valley, Enterprise and Waverley — that have declared states of emergency due to drought. Data from the latest national drought report confirms what farmers there already knew: the drought in southwest Saskatchewan got much worse last month. The region saw less than 25 per cent of normal rainfall, according to the report. The Canadian Drought Monitor — which is the official source for monitoring and reporting drought nationally — now classifies some areas of southwest Saskatchewan as experiencing extreme drought conditions. Extreme drought is the second-most-severe classification on the agency's five-category scale and represents a one in 20 year event. From May to June, some areas of southwest Saskatchewan saw a "three-class jump" on the drought monitor's scale up to the extreme drought classification. Swift Current recorded its 11th driest June on record, according to the report. Jacksteit said if they don't receive "any kind of substantial moisture before seeding next year," he's not sure what they're going to do. 9th consecutive year of drought Like Jacksteit, Kelly Bakanec, a fellow grain farmer and reeve of the neighbouring RM of Fox Valley, said he has watched his crops deteriorate this season. "I like to drive around and check crops every night. And every day, the crop is going backwards," said Bakanec of his farm, which has been in his family since 1912. "If we don't get any rain in the next week or two, it's just going to burn up to nothing. We probably won't even take the combines out." WATCH | Severe Saskatchewan drought threatens crops, livestock: Severe Saskatchewan drought threatens crops, livestock 5 days ago Duration 2:00 Bakanec said he knew this year's drought would be bad right after seeding for the season. It's especially disheartening, because he said this is the ninth consecutive year of drought in the area. The current crop insurance programs were never developed for long-term droughts, let alone for nine years in a row, he said. 'Cannot sustain those kinds of losses' Without decent crops and with crop insurance programs "not doing what they're supposed to do anymore," Bakanec said the majority of farmers he knows work second jobs to supplement their farms. Bakanec has an additional job in the excavating business and all three of his sons also work off the farm. "Farmers are fighters," he said. "We'll make it work, but we're breaking our backs trying to do it." In the RM of Big Stick, Jacksteit said there will be big financial losses this year and that farms could lose between $50 to $100 per acre. Some likely won't be able to afford to farm after this year, he said. "We've been saying this is coming, because you cannot sustain those kinds of losses and continue," said Jacksteit. "There's probably farms that are going to have banks knocking on their doors."
CTV News
20-06-2025
- Climate
- CTV News
Sask. RM of Big Stick declares state of emergency due to extreme drought
WATCH: The RM of Big Stick in southwest Sask. has asked for government assistance to help farmers during a tough time. Mick Favel reports. Due to extreme drought, the Saskatchewan rural municipality of Big Stick has declared a state of emergency. This is the ninth year in a row the area has been dealing with drought-like conditions. Reeve of the RM Quinton Jacksteit explained that several areas saw a half inch or less moisture. 'Over that period of time, our crops have rapidly deteriorated. We have crops being written off in the middle of June,' he said. Garner Deobald, the former president of the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association, said farming has always had its unique challenges in the area, but this past year has been extremely tough. 'We always say, even in good years we're a week away from a drought if conditions turn,' he said. 'It seems to be cyclical and when you're stuck in this weather pattern here, it puts everybody in a tough situation,' he added. Jacksteit said the RM is a unique area of the province for farm production. RM of Big Stick The RM of Big Stick declared a state of emergency due to a extreme drought. (Gareth Dillistone / CTV News) He said the RM hopes to be heard by the provincial and federal government on strategies to help keep their farms going through this year and into the future. 'Our insurance programs and everything simply aren't designed for this type of situation, and they are no longer meeting the needs of our producers,' he said. He concluded there are multigenerational farms in the area which are going to have to make difficult decisions going forward. The crop report for June 10-16 said rain is needed across the province to help push crop development before deterioration begins. The RM of Big Stick is located about 32 kilometres north of Maple Creek.
CTV News
20-06-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
Saskatchewan RM faces tough growing season
Regina Watch WATCH: The RM of Big Stick in southwest Sask. has asked for government assistance to help farmers during a tough time. Mick Favel reports.
United News of India
23-04-2025
- Politics
- United News of India
Panamanian university slams US meddling in Panama Canal
Panama City, Apr 23 (UNI) Recent visits to Panama by high-ranking U.S. officials aimed to "undermine Panamanian dignity and sovereignty," the state-run University of Panama said Tuesday. In a statement, the Central American country's leading institution of higher learning said the goal of U.S. government interference was to "supervise" the Panama Canal. Earlier this month, Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino received various visits by high-ranking U.S. officials, including U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and Admiral Alvin Holsey, head of the U.S. Southern Command. The University of Panama noted that the visits of U.S. officials coincided with protests from unions and social organizations rejecting the U.S. attempt to influence Panama's national affairs. "The truth is that they are eagerly trying to subdue Panamanians in order to supervise the Canal and reestablish military bases on our soil. With the latest of the envoys, the situation is extremely delicate, as activities of a military nature took place," it said. The institution declared itself in favor of the neutrality of the Panama Canal and the rights of Panamanians as "architects of our destiny, free from foreign interference." "It is imperative to free ourselves from all subordination to the interventionist policies of the United States. The Republic of Panama has no reason to align itself with the warmongering policies of the current U.S. president," the University of Panama said. It warned that the U.S. president wants to return to the days of the "Big Stick," referring to Washington's aggressive foreign policy in the past, and the world should be wary of the tariff war he has launched.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Fort Sumter surrender flag to be auctioned in Upstate
GREENVILLE COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) – The makeshift flag soldiers at Fort Sumter used to signal their surrender to the Confederate army, kick-starting the American Civil War will be sold this month at an auction house in Greenville. Richmond Auctions, a Greenville-based auction house specializing in firearms and rare antiques, announced on Tuesday an upcoming auction which will include multiple American artifacts, including the surrender flag from Fort Sumter and the 'big stick' President Theodore Roosevelt carried. 'We are thrilled to present some very historically significant items at our Premier Firearms Auction on April 25th,' said Jordan Richmond, owner and founder of Richmond Auctions. 'The inclusion of these items provides an unparalleled opportunity for collectors and history enthusiasts alike to own pieces that shaped our nation's past. These artifacts represent pivotal moments in American history, and we are honored to make them available to the public.' On April 12, 1861, confederate forces began firing on Fort Sumter, and continued to fire for more than 30 hours. A 28-and-a-half inch 'flag' made from a sheet was raised above the fort to signal the surrender of the troops inside. Bids for the flag are already open, and as of Tuesday morning the top bid was $150. Also up for auction is President Theodore Roosevelt's 'Big Stick' cane. The walking stick served as a symbol of the president's oft-quoted approach to foreign policy: 'Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far.' According to Richmond Auctions the cane was crafted specifically for Roosevelt while he was governor of New York. It measures 37 inches long with a Briarwood staff capped with an elk or antelope horn handle. A knob on the end of the stick bears Roosevelt's name. Bids for the stick are already open and the top bid as of Tuesday morning was $475. The auction will also feature a walking stick used by acclaimed American explorer Daniel Boone. The cane comes directly from the Boone Family collection, and was once on display in the Boone Museum in Iowa. It features a bone handle atop a Briarwood cane. The top bid for the cane was $600 on Tuesday morning. In addition to the walking canes and surrender flag, Richmond Auctions said the spring auction will include more than 400 firearms and 400 lots of antique outdoor advertising and collectibles. Richmond Auctions spring auction is scheduled for April 25 – 26. You can find more information here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
