Soil cores can be used to see if a field has enough moisture reserves to carry a crop, or if fertilizer rates should be cut
Prairie farmers who dealt with drought during the summer are now facing a soil moisture deficit in several areas as they cross their fingers for snowfall needed to help launch next spring’s growing season. Although precipitation this fall boosted soil moisture in some areas, “there’s definitely these pockets that have been extremely dry,” said Phillip […] Read moreTag Archives Dry Times
Water sharing agreements ‘helpful’ in a drought
As reservoir levels stabilize in southern Alberta, a consulting company says it’s crucial that all stakeholders work together
Irrigation districts in southern Alberta managed a tough growing season as drought maintains a stubborn hold and calls for maintaining co-operation between stakeholders and better water storage infrastructure continues. From the Milk River along the U.S. border to the Hay River running into the Northwest Territories, 50 water shortage advisories are currently in place across […] Read more
U.S. exports slow as Panama Canal dries up
Low water levels in the Panama Canal are not disrupting Canadian grain shipments, but they are causing turmoil for exporters in the United States. Transit capacity in the canal has been reduced to 24 ships per day through the end of November, according to a news release from the Panama Canal Authority (PAC). That compares […] Read more
Alta. feed program opens Oct. 30
Alberta will open applications for its livestock feed assistance program on Monday. Producers who altered grazing practises for more than three weeks this year due to drought conditions will be eligible for the program. Up to $150 per head will be made available to livestock producers based on a feed-need calculation for lost grazing days […] Read more
Livestock changes demanded
Western provinces are tapping into the AgriRecovery program for the second time in three years as drought and fire continue to plague the region. The federal government will provide $219 million to Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia, while the provinces will kick in a collective $125 million under the cost-splitting program designed to provide relief […] Read more
Alta. vows to tackle water shortages
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says there will be public engagement on how to best manage provincial water supplies as the situation threatens to become worse if moisture levels in southern Alberta don’t improve. “My environment minister (Rebecca Shultz), who is responsible for water, is looking into this (and) is going to be engaging with the […] Read more
Camelina seen as option as drought continues
Company promotes crop as replacement for canola in parts of the Prairies where the crop underperforms due to dryness
Camelina might not be the first oilseed crop variety that comes to mind in Western Canada, but it may be one to consider as dry conditions continue in many parts of Alberta and Saskatchewan. Carlene Sarvas, Smart Earth Camelina Corp.’s production lead, said the oilseed does well in dryland and irrigated fields, but it’s also […] Read more
Drought conditions not letting up
Moisture is just as much of a concern as harvest wraps up across the Prairies as it was at the beginning of the growing season. As of Sept. 30, 72 percent of Canada was reported as having some level of drought conditions, 69 percent of which is agricultural land, according to Agriculture Canada’s recently released […] Read more
Reservoirs fill back up in southern Alberta
Improvements in water levels have yet to impact the 41 shortage advisories that have been issued across the province
Reservoirs across southern Alberta are starting to fill again after a year in which irrigation water resources were stressed but managed to get through a growing season dominated by dry conditions and little precipitation. The one major exception is the Oldman Dam reservoir, which continues to see levels drop, albeit at a much slower rate […] Read more
Ranchers feel the heat as water supplies dwindle
Cattle producers forced to haul water since early in the summer as lack of rain dries up dugouts across the province
The drought in Alberta has caused multiple rural municipalities to declare agricultural disasters, urban communities to issue water restrictions and warnings from the province about tough times for next season if present conditions continue. That warning includes irrigation districts that got through the 2023 season by tapping into its robust reservoir system built over the […] Read more
