Life after the 2011 Flood

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1 by: Brent McCannell, MFC Life after the 2011 Flood Guy and Susan Johnson s 475 head beef cow-calf operation is located along Lake Manitoba near Eddystone, Manitoba, an area devastated by the flood of In 1916 Guy s grandfather moved from Langruth to start the farm and in 1978, Guy began the process of taking over the family farm. Guy, his wife Susan and family have grown the operation considerably and gained an impressive reputation. Their herd is noted for producing top quality Composite bulls and replacement heifers, and their genetics can be found in many herds across Canada and the northern United States. The Johnson s farm had never really experienced any serious flooding before Their ranch is situated on quite high ground and had never been affected by high water or the serious flooding in the 50 s. Guy remembers his cousins and their families, the Finneys, coming to live with them at their place as their ranch and home was flooded. They had a great time playing and getting into trouble. The Johnson farm was wet in the fall of 2010, however, they didn t feel there was any threat of flooding from Lake Manitoba. In May of 2011, Guy was busy getting his cultivated land ready for seeding, unaware a flood was coming. Some of his neighbours began talking about a flood meeting coming up in Siglunes and he thought he should go to support his neighbours. They had no idea and as Susan points out no real accurate forecasting from anyone to warn them of what was coming. When they went to Winnipeg at that time and crossed over the Floodway Diversion at Portage la Prairie and saw the water levels they began to realize what may be in store for them. And then the water came up, the likes of which their farm and the whole area had never seen before. Their house was not affected, having been built on an elevated land base, however, their cattle yard, corrals, handling pens and other farm buildings were flooded. They were preparing to artificially inseminate (AI) about 200 cows for their breeding program and had all the semen purchased. It all hit so fast, says Guy, within days their pasture, hay and cropland were under Lake Manitoba! They needed to find pasture for their cattle and of course at this late stage of planning the closest and best were gone. Thankfully, Pete Chrupalo, the MAFRI Crown Land Representative was able to find a large track on Red Deer Point and they found smaller parcels in scattered blocks. They moved their cattle, abandoned their AI program, and during the breeding season circulated bulls every two weeks. Getting ready for seeding - Spring March Used to be rotational Tame Pasture

2 The water sat for months on all their native and tame hay and pasture killing all the vegetation in the lower areas and most of the alfalfa. They were able to put a minimal amount of hay for winter-feed. March used to be Tame Grass March used to bewild Hay Their son David had returned home to seriously consider taking over the ranch - they had been discussing a farm transfer. There was a very good possibility that a fourth generation Johnson would be ranching. With all the high water and the challenges facing the business, David decided against ranching and left in June. In August, Guy and Susan began to assess their situation and plan ahead. Guy and Susan, both with University degrees, Guy in Agriculture, Susan in Home Economics were always able to logically evaluate their business and make decisions. They had very little hay for winter feed, didn t like the prospect of buying winter feed or moving their cattle to winter feed from a distance, nor having someone else look after their herd. Their winterfeed yards were underwater, their son had left, Guy was 61, and cattle prices were strong. Perhaps the logical decision would be to sell the herd? The thought of selling their genetics through an auction mart was not appealing, so they started to put out feelers to their many contacts in the beef business. With all the negatives they were facing at the time, it was very encouraging and positive when people began to show serious interest in their cattle. In the end, they sold their whole cow herd and their genetic program to a rancher in Alberta. The Albertan s breeding and genetics program continues and the new Alberta owners still consult with Guy. The Johnsons kept their heifer calves, had them custom fed and overwintered, and were able to get their last group of Composite bulls into the Douglas Bull Test station last year. The bulls sold very well at this spring s sale, says Guy. The Alberta owner phones frequently about buying the heifers. So far they haven t been for sale. The Johnsons also pointed out that the flooding wreaked havoc on the local Eddystone community. Last year was the first year there was no ice put in the curling rink and the annual baseball tournament was cancelled. Even the annual Rancher s Bash was cancelled, however this year things are improving and the Bash is Back! A year later sitting in their kitchen, looking over a flooded hay field in back of their house, the cattle herd sold, and their son gone, I ask them, What is their assessment and what would they recommend going forward for 2

3 government, planners, ranchers and others? Guy and Susan in their logical fashion sum it up in three ways: Other widespread damage in the area - Olafson s ranch at the Narrows (above & below) dam more water upstream. They and their neighbours have always enjoyed lake Manitoba. It is a very good resource for fishers, recreation and their ranch however a long term overall management plan has to be designed and implemented for the future. 1. Big Picture (Big cost - millions of dollars): The first thing to be done is the development of a Lake Manitoba water management strategy and plan. This should have been done years ago when the diversion was built at Portage to provide protection down stream. There are good reasons for flood protection downstream and most people around the Lake understand this, however, they shouldn t be the ones that suffer. Either expand the outlet to accommodate the water or 2. Compensation (thousands of dollars) Generally they have been frustrated, as have their neighbours, with all the compensation programs, however, looking back they realize how difficult the job was. They commend those in MAFRI and others for the difficult task they had to do. Looking forward they are currently planning their appeal for lost production. Their conception and weaning weights were affected and they Taken Spring of 2012 lost a whole year in their AI program or genetic program. Many of their pastures and hay fields are either still under water or dead. Ranchers are facing the same situation of having to find pasture for their cattle again this year. In the area of compensation they would recommend getting professional help. Negotiating the price of a tractor or truck is fine but quite different then negotiating with government over adequate compensation or loss from flooding. For example what has been the cost to the business for business interruption? You can measure the 3

4 cost or loss from conception or weaning weights but how do you measure a lost year of their breeding program, the consequences of their business with their son no longer in the business, their fences ruined and their land in its current condition. Flooded producers have also been experiencing issues with credit. Reduced land value has reduced their collateral and therefore their credit availability, making it very difficult to manage their cash flow. The question is how do you measure this loss and put a value on it for compensation? The loss was caused by opening the Portage Diversion to save people and property downstream and there should be adequate compensation. Most ranchers, including themselves, have never been in this position so professional help may be required. This is a whole new ball game, and it s not in their nature to hire professionals, however, in this case there is a need and as they point out we recognize we need professional help. One of their neighbours Joel Delaurier, whose ranch was also flooded and had to sell this cow herd says, we suffered through BSE and some very difficult years, this should be the time when we are able to capitalize and sell our calves at very strong price. Instead we have no calves to sell! How do you get adequate compensation for missing out on these good prices? 3. Rebuilding ranches Guy and Susan belong to a local Grazing Club along with many of their neighbours. At this point they re not sure what may be the best way to re-establish forages on their hay and pasture fields. They recognize not all situations are the same, however, they are confident that through discussion with club members, neighbours and professionals, there will be lots of ideas and alternatives and the job will get done. They have been to several MFC Grazing Schools and other events and have incorporated many best management practices on their farm. Recently they attended a MAFRI presentation by Mitch Timmerman on the after affects of the flood on native grasses that they depend on and have managed and grazed for decades. Their take home message is the vegetation in these areas are dead and no chance of the coming back for years. Not only is the vegetation dead, the soil microbes are also dead and the majority of any soil nutrients are also gone. These areas will take years to come back on their own. The potential is great for serious ecological damage to these now very fragile areas. As Guy points out ranchers have been managing and looking after this area since the early part of the last century. They ensured that these areas were covered with healthy forage crops providing protection against water erosion, managing nutrients in the soil and plants and providing a home for many species of wildlife above and below the soil. This is now all changed and going forward we will need Guy & Susan Johnson, Eddystone, MB ranchers to begin to rebuild these lands, to reestablish forages. Now that the land is beginning to dry out, they can reflect on the past year and a half. The producer organizations have been very helpful and supportive; Manitoba Beef Producers, Keystone Agricultural Producers and the Manitoba Forage Council. When Stan Struthers was Minister of Agriculture they found he was always available to discuss their situation and listen to suggestions. It has been sometimes frustrating with the compensation programs and they and their neighbours have lost patience at times with individuals however, it has been very 4

5 stressful for all concerned and they certainly appreciated the support of MAFRI and other people s patience with them. On their own farm the plan is to start rebuilding the land. In Guy and Susan s logical fashion, they know the grass and the ranch won t come back on its own, isn t useable or saleable in this condition, so they recognize as do their neighbours, that they have to roll up their sleeves and get on with rebuilding their ranches and their community. The Johnsons and the many other ranchers around Lake Manitoba are a real inspiration for the rest of us. They took the full brunt of the flood, protecting people and property downstream and we all need to be helpful and very supportive as they rebuild their lives and their livelihood. 5