b'DROUGHT IMPACTProduction Challenges Abound in 2022Whether its supply shortages or agronomic challenges like herbicide carryover, farmers are bracing for a challenging season ahead.FOR TRENT WHITING, SeCans marketing rep for Alberta and British Columbia, one word will define 2022 and the production challenges growers will facesupply.Whether its access to seed, fertilizer, or herbicides, Whiting says growers will have to be even more vigilant and proactive in making sure they have what they need to be successful a year after one of the worst droughts in recent memory.Add to that the fact that the COVID-19 pandemic is wreaking even more havoc with the supply chain.Its going to be an interesting spring to say the least, Whiting says. OverallTrent Whiting, SeCans marketing rep for AlbertaRussell Trischuk, technical services manager for supply is the big one. Thats somethingand British Columbia BASF Canadaon everyones mind right now.Hes getting a lot of questions aboutstart the production cycle. That gives youEven major input suppliers like BASF seed access. The good news is theliterally half the amount of seed againare having to warn customers about overall seed supply is not quite as tightnext year and creates a domino effect. unforeseen effects of the instability as had been feared, but growers wontIndeed, growers cant count oncaused by the events of 2021.be able to count on brand-new geneticsproduct availability like they could in theIn September, BASF issued an urgent being available as readily as they mightpast. Its a problem that is being keenlynotice to its grower customers warning have. That could spill over into futurefelt by people like Chris Bauer, a grainof a high degree of risk of injury for years, he adds. farmer in Lake Lenore, Sask. sensitive crops in 2022, such as canola, If youre looking for a really newSupply shortages are going to be andurum wheat and canary seed, due to variety, or one thats maybe not as big,added risk. In the past, we knew wepossible herbicide carryover caused by you know, the overall supply is a concern.had no control over the weather, butthis years drought.That can be from certified seed thatwe could usually count on productWe all know that certain would go to a farmer customer right up toavailability. Now, with shipping delays,environmental conditions can delay the stock seed, he says, adding that a chainand seed availability problems caused bybreakdown of herbicide residues in soil, reaction may occur which could causethe drought, even thats not for sure. Andbut this year is different, the company some unexpected issues down the line. even if something is available, the pricessays in its notice.It ultimately affects breeder seedare higher, he says. Our research shows that in seasons production and all the rest. It can reallyFirst the pandemic hit and then we gotwhere there has not been an adequate put you behind with a brand-newhit by last years drought. My yields wereamount of rainfall throughout the season variety. Weve got a new two row feed40 per cent what they normally are, andto facilitate herbicide breakdown in the barley, and Im going to get about halfI did better than a lot of people aroundsoil, injury to more sensitive rotational the breeder seed I was hoping to get tohere. Everyones concerned, for sure. crops is likely to occur.34seed.ab.ca'