In the past two weeks, several areas of Alberta have declared states of agricultural disaster due to drought. Many livestock producers are struggling to find ways to feed their animals because the lack of rain has stunted growth on pastures and hay fields — but a farmer in Manitoba wants to help.

Jurgen Kohler, who farms in the Brunkild area, has more hay bales than he needs, so he and his wife have decided to send some to Alberta. But Kohler doesn't want any money. He plans to donate the bales because he believes it's the right thing to do.

"It's the Canadian thing to do," he says. "[It's about helping] somebody in need, and not [taking] advantage of the dry situation to make a lot of money. I'm actually, quite frankly, disappointed in some of my fellow farmers here in Manitoba that nobody's stepped up to the plate. Yesterday I heard of somebody who's already shipping hay to Alberta and selling it for, like, $250 a bale and upwards. I'm pretty upset about that because how can you take advantage of a situation like that? It could happen to us, too."

Kohler is donating a 100 round bales, and has already gotten a response from Parkland and McKenzie Counties — the first two to declare disaster — but also from producers and transporters.

"I've received lots of emails," he says, "my wife is going through the emails as we speak and trying to contact some transportation companies to find out how much it would cost to ship the hay out. Or maybe some transportation companies are willing to donate."

Kohler says their concern about transportation, however, is finding a reputable company. Since the price per hay bale is much higher than usual, he wants to make sure that whoever he deals with will actually ensure the bales get to Alberta.

"We want to make sure this is going to where it's needed the most, where it prevents some animals from being slaughtered," he says. "So it's going to be a little bit tricky."

Kohler says he and his wife have been talking to transport companies in Winnipeg and Alberta, and hopes the bales will be on the road next week, but they're still working out the details.

"We just want to make sure that the hay goes to a ranch or a small farm where it really helps them out," he says.

Anyone wanting to help out or pitch in can email Kohler's wife, Diane Giesbrecht, at dianeg@wpcu.ca.