[UPDATED: June 27, 2022] Farmers near Fisher Branch found fields and roads under water after the area got more than seven inches of rain on Tuesday, June 21.
“It’s definitely what you’d call a flash flood,” said Jamal Abas, whose family farms north of Fisher Branch at Hodgson.
Environment Canada data shows 187 mm (over seven inches) of rain fell at Fisher Branch on June 21.
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Manitoba agriculture data shows 64 mm (2.5 inches) at nearby Fisherton and 57 mm to the southwest at Eriksdale.
Abas said they’d made a mad dash to seed fields around their yard with oats only to have them swamped hours later.
“I don’t know what’s going to grow,” he said.
[PHOTOS] Garry Tanchak’s farm on June 25, 2022. Tanchak said in an email to the Co-operator that drainage has been an issue for years and his drains had already been at full capacity for three weeks before the area received four inches of rain on June 21. Photos: Garry Tanchak
This comes after an already rain-soaked spring.
Jeff Plett, who farms southwest of Fisher Branch, said he’d seeded about 20 per cent of his fields by June 11. The downpour put most of that under water, though by June 23 he said much of that water had run off.
Some crops had emerged and may survive, Plett said.
Water also pooled in some of his pasture —a t one point rising as high as the top of the barbed wire, Plett said.
[VIDEO] The main road in and out of the Tanchak farm was washing out on June 25, 2022. Tanchak’s farm is located south of Fisherton and west of Fisher Branch. Video: Garry Tanchak
This marks the end of seeding for him, Plett said. All major crop insurance deadlines are passed.
Plett, who also raises beef cattle, said he’s considering planting some greenfeed.
Abas said they were also unable to finish seeding, though greenfeed might also be a possibility. His family also raises cattle.
Continually wet soils hampered seeding in the Interlake before rain brought it to a final stop, the June 21 provincial crop report says. This was worst along both sides of Lake Manitoba, into the Fisher Branch and Fisherton areas, and towards Arborg.
MASC has seen a “substantial number” of seeded acreage reports filed because of wet conditions, included in the Interlake said chief product officer David van Deynze.
MASC is prioritizing excess moisture insurance (EMI) claims, van Deynze added.
Some growers are sourcing alternative crop or forage seeds, the crop report said.
Others are turning to growing forage for seed said Paul Gregory, who owns Interlake Forage Seeds at Fisher Branch.
“Our own forage seed company has seen more contracting in the last two weeks than all winter,” he said.
*Update: The article was updated to include photos and video of the Tanchak farm.
