CALGARY — A global study has shown that increasing periods of extreme short-term drought due to climate change will likely have a more severe impact than expected on grasslands relied on by beef producers. “I think the message from this one is that we probably have been underestimating the effects of the droughts that we’re […] Read more
Tag Archives Dry Times
Alberta forms drought advisory committee
MEDICINE HAT — Alberta has struck a new drought advisory committee as some provincial rivers reach record low levels, reservoirs remain below capacity and mountain snowpacks continue to be under historical averages. The province says at least parts of the province are facing risks of severe drought conditions in part due to warm and dry […] Read more
Sask. freezes lease rate for cattle producers
REGINA — In anticipation of another dry year, the Saskatchewan government has already announced two drought-related measures for cattle producers. Agriculture minister David Marit told the Saskatchewan Beef Industry Conference last week that grazing rates on crown land would be frozen at 2022 levels and producers who have to reduce stocking rates on leased crown […] Read more
Sask. livestock drought program extended
REGINA — Governments have expanded and extended the Canada-Saskatchewan Feed Program available to the province’s livestock producers. Ten rural municipalities have been added to the area eligible for the initial $150 per head payment, and the application deadline has been extended to March 15. “We recognize the areas significantly impacted by drought this past fall […] Read more
Feeding problems worsen impact of cold weather
MEDICINE HAT — Poor grazing conditions last summer due to drought may make cattle especially prone to this winter’s extreme cold conditions, according to a Medicine Hat veterinarian specializing in livestock. Temperatures across Alberta dipped below -30 C in mid-January following a season of poor growing conditions across the southeastern rangeland portion of the province […] Read more
Livestock drought assistance expanded in Alta.
Drought assistance for livestock producers is being expanded in Alberta. The federal and provincial governments have announced that applications are opening up for an additional 23 municipalities. In addition to the expansion of eligible regions, the deadline for applying for funds under the Canada-Alberta Drought Livestock Assistance program has been extended to Feb. 22. The […] Read more
Finding the best pulse for a dry year
Although it’s too early to tell for sure, trusted sources are suggesting drought conditions on the horizon for 2024. According to Agriculture Canada’s Canadian Drought Monitor in its December 2023 drought assessment, 100 percent of the prairie region at month-end was classified as abnormally dry or in moderate to exceptional drought. This includes all of the […] Read more
Maersk to use rail to bypass Panama Canal amid drought
Shipping companies are forced to find alternatives as drought and military conflict affect trade routes around the world
REUTERS — A.P. Moller-Maersk will use trains to avoid the drought-hit Panama Canal for some of its vessels, the Danish shipping giant said as low water levels continue to cause one of the world’s main maritime trade routes to reduce crossings. The Panama Canal Authority has reduced the amount and weight of vessels passing through […] Read more
Low-moisture canola problem linked to straight cutting
SASKATOON — Canola growers in southern Saskatchewan want to know how much money is lost due to the low moisture content of their crops. Mark Alexander, a grower from Weyburn, Sask., recently asked the Saskatchewan Canola Development Commission (SaskCanola) to conduct a study on the issue, which has become a thorn in the side of […] Read more
Climate change, El Nino make 2023 hottest year on record
BRUSSELS, Belgium (Reuters) — Last year was the planet’s hottest on record by a substantial margin and likely the world’s warmest in the last 100,000 years, said the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service. Scientists had widely expected the milestone, after climate records were repeatedly broken. Since June, every month has been the world’s hottest […] Read more
