OTTAWA – Today, New Democrat Agriculture Critic Alex Atamanenko press the federal government to commit more resources and manpower to deal with deluge of claims that current drought will likely create.

“Up to 90% of the West will be affected by this summer’s drought. Every sector of farming, from grain to cattle, will be affected,” said Atamanenko. “We need to see the Federal government step up and start getting ready now by hiring extra staff and provide the resources that farmers will need.”

Forecasts are predicting a long dry summer for most of the west with 80-90% of everything west of Manitoba is experiencing “record dry” or “extremely low” moisture conditions. Farmers are now saying if they do not get rain in the next couple of days the year will be a complete write off.

“I am worried that the government is being complacent with their current aid programs, and will be caught completely flatfooted when the true magnitude of this drought becomes apparent,” said Atamanenko. “We need to ensure that farmers and their families are not caught up in bureaucratic red tape and they get the aid they need to ride out this environmental catastrophe.”