Eastern hay arrives on Western Canadian farms

Ken Overby is breathing easier. This week, the fifth and final trailer load of round bales was unloaded at his 400-head bison ranch near Inwood, Man. The 190 round bales are part of Hay West 2021, a relief program operated by the Canadian Federation of Agriculture that is working with farmers across Atlantic and Eastern Canada to provide hay to drought-stricken western livestock producers. “It’s a good program and it’s very welcome. I applaud the people who put it together and all the efforts that they’ve gone to,” Overby said by phone. The supplied hay gives more options, but he will still have to cull heavier than normal and sell some stock. “We’re going to have zero stockpiled grass for next spring. I’m going to be saving that hay for spring feeding at calving time. The Hay West program allows us to calve out the cows and have some fairly decent feed for them at that time rather than just straw,” he said. CFA president Mary Robinson said many eastern Canadian producers, ...