Manitoba Agriculture, Food And Rural Initiatives has provided information on preparing for flood conditions in rural Manitoba.
Key Contacts
• Animal Care Line, 204-945-8000 for co-ordination of requests for assistance from pet owners and hobby farms affected by flooding.
• Winnipeg Humane Society, website
• The Manitoba Horse Council Horse Rescue, 204-925-5718.
• Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation (MASC), local offices or www.masc.mb.ca/masc.nsf for information on agricultural insurance.
• Additional information on flood preparations and response is available at www.gov.mb.ca/flooding.
Caring for Pets
• Pet owners should have a plan for their pets if they must evacuate their home. Owners should take all pets with them or make alternate arrangements with family or friends.
• When moving pets, ensure they are in a proper transportation kennel or container and have access to food and emergency care. Keep proper animal control equipment with the animal such as leads or leashes as well as the animal’s feed and watering containers.
• If pet owners cannot keep their pets with them, then alternatives such as boarding at an animal kennel, humane society or at a veterinary office should be considered. There will be a charge for this which may be recoverable through an individual disaster financial assistance claim.
• The Animal Care Line at 204-945-8000 is being operated by the province to co-ordinate requests for assistance from pet owners and hobby farms affected by flooding. The line will be staffed between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. After-hours calls will be taken on an answering machine which will be monitored on an ongoing basis. All calls will be co-ordinated and referred to the appropriate agencies such as the Winnipeg Humane Society, City of Winnipeg (Animal Control), Manitoba Emergency Response for Animals (MERA) and Manitoba Veterinary Medical Association.
• The Manitoba Horse Council Horse Rescue will help to arrange for moving and temporary boarding of horses at 204-925-5718.
Caring for Livestock
• Most producers and rural area residents have developed flood response plans that include the safety and care of livestock and stored grain crops.
• Producers need to ensure their livestock has access to feed and water on high ground and may need to make arrangements to have additional feed available on-site in the event the herd cannot be moved or if local roads become blocked.
• Producers who require assistance in finding a temporary location for livestock can contact their local GO Office.
• Producers are responsible for ensuring there is adequate feed and water at any temporary location used by their livestock.
Crops
• Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives has a series of fact sheets dealing with crop production in times of excess moisture including dealing with late planting, soil fertility considerations, management of diseases, weeds, insects under wet conditions and dealing with farm equipment and pesticide containers that may have been flooded. This information is available at GO Offices and will be available online in the near future.
• Most grain within the areas at risk is protected from flood waters or has been moved to safe storage. Producers with grain storage bins located on lands in danger of flooding should make plans to move the grain as soon as possible.
• The Canadian Wheat Board has provided additional railcars in the Red River Valley to free up elevator space, allowing producers to deliver their accepted A and B grade grain. Grades with fusarium head blight are also being shipped.
• Agricultural producers in areas that may be affected by flooding can get special spring road restriction permits. These permits will allow producers to transport grains, oilseeds and livestock out of flood-affected areas. For more information is available at local GO Offices or Motor Carrier Permits and Development, Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 204-945-8030, 204-945‑3961 or 1-877-812-0009 (toll-free).
• The Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation (MASC) offers a range of crop insurance programs including excess moisture. More information about specific programs is available at local MASC offices or online at www.masc.mb.ca/masc.nsf.
• Farm production advisors and business development specialists at GO Centres are available to answer questions and to help producers deal with specific agriculture-related flood issues.
• Producers and residents should contact local municipal offices to have culverts opened to begin and maintain the flow of water along ditches.
Manitoba Farm and Rural Stress Line
The Manitoba Farm and Rural Stress Line offers confidential support, counselling and information for farm and rural people at www.ruralstress.ca or 1-866-367-3276 (toll-free).
