Information and Key Contacts
National & Prairie Drought Conditions

The federal and provincial government departments listed below can provide information on national and Prairie drought conditions and have designated spokespeople to be your first point of contact on specific topics. To help you reach the right person to answer questions in a timely manner, a general description of some of the topics each department may be able to help you with has been provided.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration (PFRA)

PFRA can provide timely information on the impacts of climatic variability on water supply and agriculture on the Prairies and promote ideas and activities for groups or individuals to reduce drought vulnerability. The PFRA Drought Watch web page has several current maps that can be downloaded or printed in high-quality formats.

We can respond to queries such as:

• Dugout levels and pasture carry over conditions assessments
• Deviations from normal precipitation levels
• Rural water development program
• Planning for, and managing drought
• On-farm and group or community water supplies and management
• Tax deferral
• Emergency dugout pumping

General information on programs such as the Canadian Farm Income Program (CFIP), the Farm Income Disaster Program (FIDP), and specific farm financial enquiries:

Canadian Agricultural Stabilization Program (CAIS)
Ellen Funk,
204-984-5751

Advance Payments Program
Michel Masse,
613-759-6289

Crop Insurance
George Pikor,
613-759-7518

Commodity specific questions and production forecasts:

Glenn Lennox, Wheat Analyst
204-983-8465

Chris Beckman, Oilseeds Analyst
204-984-4929

Joe Wang, Coarse Grain Analyst
204-983-8461

Stan Skrypetz, Special Crops Analyst
204-983-8972

Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development

Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development can provide timely information regarding Alberta's weather and climate.

Queries such as:

• General information on Alberta's climate and weather (current and historical)
• Soil moisture levels
• Agricultural weather summaries (monthly, annual and precipitation-to-date maps)
• Climate normals
• Crop conditions throughout the growing season
• Provincial government programs and Safety Nets
• Drought management information

Province of Saskatchewan, Key Contacts and media spokesperson

Terry Karwandy, Agrologist, Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
Tel: 306-787-5956
E-mail: tkarwandy@agr.gov.sk.ca

Malcolm French, Communications Manager, Sask Water
Tel: 306-694-3017
E-mail: MFRE@saskwater.com

Environment Canada

Environment Canada can provide timely information regarding weather and climate across the prairie provinces. Visit their website at www.weatheroffice.ec.gc.ca/canada_e.html. The Environment Canada website also provides Seasonal Forecasts.

They can respond to queries such as:

• Precipitation amounts at various locations
• How this year's precipitation compares to other years (including averages, maximums and minimums)
• Meteorological causes of this situation, el nino/la nina
• Precipitation and temperatures forecasts for the next 1-5 days or 3-6 months
• Information about reported severe weather and safety tips on how to reduce its impact by making good choices

Alberta Environment

Alberta Environment can provide timely information associated with dry conditions and/or water use, forests, fish and wildlife and several other topics.

They can respond to queries such as:

• Alberta's water supply conditions and forecast
• Operation of Alberta's water infrastructure to meet a variety of needs
• Water management within Alberta
• Water Quality
• Flood forecasting
• Transboundary water agreements within Alberta
• Fisheries and wildlife management within Alberta
• Forest protection and wildfire hazard assessment for Alberta

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada - Alberta
Lethbridge Research Centre

The Lethbridge Research Centre can best offer a local perspective on the meteorology, relative to climatology as they operate climatological stations (with Environment Canada) at several locations in Alberta. The Centre can provide climatological information such as; Year 2000 was the 8th driest on record at Lethbridge.

They can respond to queries such as:

• Drought and Wind erosion risk
• Local drought conditions and impact

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Saskatchewan Research Centres

University of Lethbridge

They can respond to queries such as:

• Drought and insect populations related to drought such as grasshoppers.
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