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By Cam Lee

Agriculture roundup

Agriculture Roundup for Tuesday, March 17

Mar 17, 2020 | 9:42 AM

The negative impact COVID-19 is having on grain and livestock markets has already been seen.

However, farmers aren’t sure what’s going to happen when it’s time to seed this spring.

Jim Wickett farms in the Rosetown area and is Chair of the Western Canadian Wheat Growers.

He said there are a lot of ‘what if’ questions remaining.

“You plan and you hope for the best and you see what happens,” Wickett said.

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He said farmers have persevered through wars and a previous Trudeau government, but he conceded it won’t be a normal spring.

It could be a challenge as well for the farms that rely on out-of-country employees.

If those employees aren’t here yet, they may not arrive.

Wickett said he knows a farmer who hires employees from Europe, and they usually arrive mid-April.

“We’ll really have to watch that situation, and hopefully those guys are getting out ahead of things,” Wickett said.

COVID-19 is also an added complication for the farmers who still have crop on the field.

The provincial total is an estimated two million acres.

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The COVID-19 virus continues to affect public events across Saskatchewan.

That includes Crop Talk 2020, which was to be held in Prince Albert next Wednesday, March 25.

They are trying to figure out a potential online webinar option, and you can visit conservationlearningcentre.com to monitor the situation.

You can also email allie.noble@gov.sk.ca.

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alice.mcfarlane@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @AliceMcF