Southern Alberta has been in a multi-year drought, and when last week saw the heaviest amount of snow in years, there was a lot of talk about how to store snow in place in the hopes that it would soak into the soil. Became.
Action is also taking place, with one farmer’s innovative approach to water conservation sparking much debate. Sean Haney and Peter Johnson spoke recently (at 8:21) It’s an experimental practice that may bring a glimmer of hope to parched farmland. The idea is to roll the snow into a compact snowpack that retains moisture before it is lost in the relentless winds of the prairie.
Kara Oosterhaus, who previously worked as a field reporter for RealAgriculture with her family, is taking an unconventional approach to grabbing snow using a land roller, typically used to level fields for crops like peas and soybeans. I decided to take a similar approach.
Watch a video of Carla’s father, Gerald, rolling away freshly fallen snow to prevent it from being blown away by winds common in southwestern Alberta’s wind-swept regions.
Burn diesel or save moisture? pic.twitter.com/8uRrNL5tZA
— Gerard Oosterhaus (@GjoostGerard) March 24, 2024
In areas like Lethbridge, Alberta, where the wind rarely stops, the idea of creating a compacted layer of snow could be crucial in retaining precious moisture. However, the final effect of snow rolling can vary depending on several factors, including the initial moisture content of the snow, temperature conditions, and the presence of stumps to naturally trap the snow.
This experiment also raises questions about the balance between effort, cost, and benefit, especially given the relatively low moisture content of snow. However, in the face of adversity and given the pressing need for innovative solutions to combat drought, such experiments are invaluable.
Not all farmers who saw the viral video on Instagram and Twitter were on board with the idea of running land rollers on recently fallen snow, but that’s to be expected. There are several people in the thread who are interested in the results.
I’m looking forward to seeing the rounded area of the field and the results of the check strips at harvest. If you have any feedback on this idea or would like to share your creative thinking, please send an email to: (email protected).
