Adapting to Future Weather Insights from Saskatchewan Agricultural Producers

The document examines the experiences of farmers in southern Saskatchewan, specifically in the rural municipalities of Pense, Redburn, Benson, and Estevan. It details the impacts of extreme weather events since the mid-1990s, such as droughts and floods, and outlines the short-term and long-term strategies producers use to mitigate losses, including insurance and zero-till farming.

• Saskatchewan is projected to experience temperature increases of 3–6°C by the end of the century, alongside an overall drying trend characterized by more intense droughts, declining river and lake levels, and increased evaporation.
• Farmers in the rural municipalities of Pense and Redburn identified drought, early frost, hailstorms, and flooding as primary stresses, while those in Benson and Estevan were less affected by drought but concerned with early frost and flooding.
• Weather-related impacts include crop loss, lower yields, damaged equipment, delayed seeding, increased pest activity, and, specifically in southeastern Saskatchewan, higher outbreaks of crop diseases.
• Common coping strategies include the use of Saskatchewan Crop Insurance or hail insurance, early harvesting, and the adoption of zero or minimum till to retain soil moisture and prevent erosion.
• Long-term adaptation is hindered by high costs associated with new technologies and infrastructure, as well as uncertainty regarding future weather events and tight economic margins.

APA

International Institute for Sustainable Development (2009). Adapting to Future Weather Insights from Saskatchewan Agricultural Producers. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/pcr_producer_primer_sk.pdf

Chicago

International Institute for Sustainable Development. Adapting to Future Weather Insights from Saskatchewan Agricultural Producers. 2009. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/pcr_producer_primer_sk.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=International Institute for Sustainable Development |title=Adapting to Future Weather Insights from Saskatchewan Agricultural Producers |date=March 2009 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/pcr_producer_primer_sk.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{internationalinstituteforsustainabledevelopment2009adapting, author = {{International Institute for Sustainable Development}}, title = {{Adapting to Future Weather Insights from Saskatchewan Agricultural Producers}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2009}, month = mar, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/pcr_producer_primer_sk.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }