As Saskatchewan bakes under relentless summer heat, multiple municipalities across the province have declared states of emergency in response to what meteorologists are calling the most severe drought conditions in decades. The crisis, unfolding during what should be peak growing season, threatens not just agricultural output but the very livelihood of rural communities throughout the region.
“We’re witnessing rainfall deficits of up to 80% below seasonal averages in some areas,” explains Dr. Marianne Kowalski, senior climatologist with Environment Canada. “Combined with temperatures consistently 4-6 degrees above normal since May, we’re facing an unprecedented moisture deficit in the soil.”
The Rural Municipality of Maple Creek was the first to declare an emergency last week, followed quickly by six other jurisdictions including Swift Current County and Rosetown District. These declarations enable local governments to access provincial emergency funds and implement water restriction measures beyond what would normally be permitted.
The province’s Agriculture Ministry reports that over 65% of Saskatchewan’s wheat, canola, and barley crops are now rated as “poor to very poor,” representing potential losses exceeding $3.2 billion in agricultural output. Cattle ranchers face equally dire circumstances, with many already selling portions of their herds as pastureland turns to dust and feed prices skyrocket.
“This isn’t just a bad year—this is potentially catastrophic,” says James Harrington, who farms 2,400 acres near Davidson. “My family has worked this land for four generations, and I’ve never seen the topsoil blow like this, not even during the dry spells of the early 2000s.”
Provincial officials have activated the Saskatchewan Drought Response Team, a multi-agency task force established after the 2021 drought. The team coordinates emergency water deliveries to communities where municipal wells are failing and implements livestock support programs for affected ranchers.
Premier Michelle Ross announced yesterday that the province is requesting federal disaster assistance, which could unlock additional funding through the Agricultural Recovery Framework. “We’re taking this situation extremely seriously,” the Premier stated during a press conference in Regina. “Our agricultural community is the backbone of Saskatchewan’s economy, and we’re committed to supporting them through this crisis.”
Climate scientists point to this emergency as consistent with projected impacts of climate change in the prairie provinces. Models have long predicted that the Canadian prairies would experience more frequent and severe drought events as global temperatures rise.
For Saskatchewan’s farmers, theoretical climate projections have become harsh reality. Many now face difficult decisions about whether to abandon crops entirely, while municipal water utilities implement increasingly strict conservation measures. In Kindersley, residents face fines for watering lawns or gardens, while car washes and public pools have been closed indefinitely.
As Canada Day celebrations take on a somber tone across the province, communities are rallying to support those most affected. Local food banks report surging demand as economic ripple effects spread from farms to small businesses throughout rural areas.
With long-range forecasts showing little relief in sight, the question facing Saskatchewan isn’t just how to survive this summer, but how to prepare for what many climate experts warn could become the new normal in the Canadian prairies?
For more coverage on this developing situation, visit our Canada News section or follow our special report on the drought crisis.
