Lögberg-Heimskringla - 01.08.2010, Side 21

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Lögberg-Heimskringla • 1. ágúst 2010 • 21
The provincial and federal
governments are offering farm-
ers $30 on their unseeded acres.
Farmers who have crop insur-
ance – and many do not because
it is very expensive and they
gamble that they’ll get at least
some yield – get another $50,
though there are some deduc-
tions. Chris Gislason said that it
will cost him about $8 an acre
for each application of chemical
and for the fuel, not including
wear and tear on machinery. He
figures it will take three applica-
tions to do the job, which will
fairly much eat up the $30.
It’s an even bigger problem
for some local farmers, said
Christie Dalman, who retired
from farming near Wynyard two
years ago. “A lot of the guys
can’t get on the land to spray
and they are hiring airplanes to
do the job for them.” Around
Wynyard, said Dalman, to the
north is old lake bottom, sand-
ier soil, which can absorb more
moisture. The problem is with
clay soils.
There is also a potential
problem with wells. Saskatch-
ewan Watershed Authority is
offering free testing for flooded
areas because of concerns about
nitrates and E. coli and other
bacteria getting into drinking
water.
There are road closures ev-
erywhere in rural Saskatchewan.
The gravel grid roads can’t han-
dle the water. The Foam Lake
R.M. Council leased a grader so
that they would have four ma-
chines who could head out as
soon as possible after each rain
to try to save the roads as much
as possible.
All four farmers say they’ve
never seen a spring like this
one. They point out that the true
weight of the crisis hasn’t hit
yet. Producers still have grain
in the bins from last year. But
when that’s gone, and the bills
keep coming in, that’s when
everyone is going to feel the
results of this year’s weather.
There are already some layoffs
in rural areas – when farmers
are not on the field, their equip-
ment doesn’t need repairs and
they don’t use fuel.
How do people cope?
Helgason was recently elect-
ed to the Emerald R.M. Coun-
cil. The beavers are loving the
weather and are busily building
dams, plugging up culverts and
causing more flooding. “When
I can’t do anything, I can’t fix
equipment, I can’t garden, I go
out and clean out beaver dams,”
he said. “It distracts me.”
Chris Gislason says he tries
to take the attitude that he has
more time to work on projects,
to make repairs to buildings, and
to see more family. Meanwhile,
he’s counting on some warm
windy weather – evaporating
days, he calls them. This year’s
crop is what it is, but it is essen-
tial for farmers to be able to get
onto the land to repair their dam-
aged acres before next spring.
Thorsteinson is taking time
to listen to the talk around town.
“The general public is taking
notice about the farm situation,”
he said. “I’ve had three people
ask whether the price of flour
and bread is going to go up. This
may be a reality check for a lot
of things.”
He has a suggestion for the
farmers who have not been able
to get a crop in and have time
on their hands. “Every year you
work your butt off and you have
no time for your family. Let’s
call this “The Year of the Fam-
ily.” Let’s do things with the
family that we didn’t do. It’s out
of your hands. It’s nothing you
caused.”
And Christie Dalman? “I’m
so happy I am out of it,” he said.
“This is my second year not
farming. It’s a relief to be away
from it.”
Meanwhile, for everyone,
there’s also a little Saskatch-
ewan gallows humour.
Seems a reporter died and, as
she waited in the judgment line,
she observed that some souls
were led away by St. Peter and
immediately welcomed with
cries of joy into heaven. Others
were turned over to Satan, who
threw them directly into the fi-
ery pit. But, as she watched, she
realized that, every so often, Sa-
tan would take a soul and dump
it onto a slowly growing heap.
She couldn’t stand it. She ap-
proached Satan.
“Excuse me, Sir Prince
of Darkness,” she said. “I’m
waiting in the judgment line, but
I am a reporter and I couldn’t
help noticing that you are
selecting some souls to throw
into a separate pile rather than
into the fiery pit. Could you tell
me why?”
“Oh my raging headache,”
said Satan. “Those are Sas-
katchewan souls. They are too
wet to burn.”
Too wet for
the devil
Continued from page 9
Photo: terry helgason
The Helgasons embedded a toonie into one of the hailstones that hit their farm on July 2.
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