When western Canada was first surveyed by Europeans for
settlement, the surveyor, Captain Palliser, deemed the northern
extension of the "great American desert" not fit for settlement.
This area is still known as Palliser's Triangle and is the area
currently hit by drought. (This does not include Manitoba) As my
old economics professor at Saskatchewan used to point out, the
area gets only a couple more inches of rain than the Sahara
desert. However in the decade or so preceding WW1, when
settlement spread on the prairies, there was a period of the
climatic cycle when rainfall was relatively plentiful. Hence the area
was settled but it should never have been and should be returned to
grazing land.
Paul Phillips
From: "Andrew Hagen" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "[EMAIL PROTECTED]" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date sent: Fri, 21 Sep 2001 23:42:55 -0500
Send reply to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Priority: Normal
Subject: [PEN-L:17534] Re: Garbanzos for peace!
> I'm sorry to hear about your horses. You're not kidding about drought.
> Drought is a recurring problem for farmers and ranchers on the Great
> Plains. I need to qualify my previous response. On the whole,
> irrigation is not necessary for successful farming and ranching in the
> region. Drought is temporary and scattered, but when it hits, it's
> devastating. Either irrigation or emergency funds for drought-stricken
> farmers are needed, though, along with a host of well thought
> agricultural policies to prevent all kinds of problems, including
> losses of family operations, topsoil erosion, rural impoverishment, and
> overuse of chemicals.
>
> Andrew Hagen
> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
>
> On Fri, 21 Sep 2001 21:54:14 -0500, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
>
> >Well, I just have lived for the past -- well almost 40 years on the
> >prairies -- rode my horses, lived in my rural communtity, etc.
> >cultimated my garden, tendered my pasture, etc, etc.
> >
> >Yea and we had a hell of a time with chemical crop dusters. Yea
> >and we had a real problem with drought. Yea and we had a real
> >problem with all the aspects of the corporate attempt to take over
> >the ag. industry. We moved back to the city and, all of my horses
> >are for sale (and saddles and bridles and tack).
> >
> >Paul Phillips
> >
> >
> >
> > "Andrew Hagen" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> >To: "[EMAIL PROTECTED]" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> >Date sent: Fri, 21 Sep 2001 21:29:33 -0500
> >Send reply to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> >Priority: Normal
> >Subject: [PEN-L:17523] Re: Re: Re: Garbanzos for peace!
> >
> >> I'm a native of Fargo, North Dakota, and have spent quite a lot of time
> >> on farms in the Great Plains. Do you have a more specific objection to
> >> my remarks? Maybe I made some error.
> >>
> >> Andrew Hagen
> >> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> >>
> >> On Fri, 21 Sep 2001 19:48:29 -0500, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
> >>
> >> >Obviously, Andrew doesn't live on the prairies or deal with
> >> >agricultural issues. Pity.
> >> >
> >> >Paul Phillips,
> >> >Economics,
> >> >University of Manitoba
> >> >
> >> >> Most of the Great Plains does not need irrigation to produce crops with
> >> >> enormous yields, year after year. There are many problems such as
> >> >> overuse of insecticides and herbicides, and topsoil erosion, but we
> >> >> shouldn't stop farming the land for those reasons.
> >> >>
> >> >> Andrew Hagen
> >> >> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> >> >>
> >> >
> >> >
> >>
> >
> >
>
