Extreme weather has left some Manitoba farmers devastated this year.
Many crops have been destroyed, leaving farmers saying they’re mentally, physically and emotionally exhausted as they wait on financial assistance.
“Everywhere you look, there’s devastation. There’s land ruined. There’s land washed away,” said Sean Baskier, who farms in the Swan River Valley region of southwestern Manitoba.
“It hasn’t been a good summer to go for a drive.”
There’s been little respite for many farmers across the province during a brutal season that began with unexpected May frost, followed by relentless rains in June and record-breaking heat in July.
In the Swan River Valley, producers are reporting thousands of hectares lost to overland flooding, after raging waters carved deep fissures into fields, leaving thick debris and displaced topsoil.
Baskier, who farms near the western Manitoba community of Lidstone, says it’s been a summer of chaos that’s led to a daunting fall harvest.
Flooding prevented seeding in three of his 20 quarter sections (each 160 acres, or about 65 hectares), and estimates his crop yield losses could be up to $500,000.
Now, Baskier’s focus is split between preparing for harvest and trying to deal with the damage flooding has done to his land. He worries flood debris like rocks and railroad ties could damage equipment as he harvests low-growing beans.
He and his neighbours are also dealing with damaged roads, critical for transportation during harvest.
At the height of the flooding, the province said more than 50 roads were damaged or washed out. While Baskier praised his local municipality for its repair efforts, there’s still a backlog.
Baskier’s experience is shared by farmers across the province, says Jake Ayer, vice-president of Keystone Agricultural Producers. He estimates harvest is anywhere from a week to two weeks behind in several regions.
Some parts of the province have seen more than double the usual amount of rain over the summer. The northwest Parkland and Swan Valley West areas were hit hard by overland flooding. Parts of the Interlake, and areas around Stonewall also saw flooding, while southwest and south central Manitoba faced destructive hail.
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Ayer likened a normal year of farming to playing poker — farmers have an idea of which cards are on the table and make educated bets, hoping the odds are in their favour.
But this year, none of the odds are playing out.
“It’s like sitting at the poker table, and every different player has their own deck, so your odds are just incrementally stacked,” said Ayer.
The stress of that has spurred more open conversations about mental health, now a top concern for the industry.
“I’ve had grown men crying,” Ayer said. “There’s a lot of people out there who are really feeling it.”
He encourages producers to use resources like the Manitoba Farmers Wellness Program — which offers free counselling — and the Manitoba Farm Rural and Northern Support Services hotline for help.
Low initial yields for crops like spring wheat have dampened morale, Ayer said, but a recent market rally for commodities is offering a slight silver lining for those with crops to harvest.
“I think many people are ready for 2026 to be over and to get into a fresh start with 2027,” he said.
Kolan McKay, who farms east of Swan River, is among those already focused on next year, even though harvest has just begun.
Some of his crops pulled through the flooding, but about 600 acres (nearly 250 hectares) were lost.
“The acres that are kind of full farm write-off … are the ones that sting a bit,” he said, but the unaffected areas are looking good.
His hope now is for a 2027 season where rains come gradually, rather than in a deluge.
Back on his Lidstone-area farm, Baskier says producers affected by flooding need help now to get ready for next year.
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He and other farmers are working to secure money the province promised from its disaster financial assistance program, which can provide up to $3 million for flood recovery and mitigation costs on farms when insurance is unavailable.
That’s left farmers with an overall grim mood, as they hope for a better autumn.
“We just hope that we can have a long fall, without a frost, and get the land fixed back up so that we have a sense of hope for next year.”
Difficult harvest in Swan River Valley after summer of floods
The Manitoba Farmer Wellness Program provides mental health support for farmers, their families and employees at no cost with confidential counseling.
Mental health counselling and crisis support are also available 24 hours a day, seven days a week through Manitoba Farm and Rural and Northern Support Services hotline at 1-866-367-3276.
