An RCMP truck is in the foreground while a huge column of smoke from wildfires rises in the background, and a water bomber aircraft passes over top of it.

Wildfire smoke poses health risks to farmers and livestock

Manitoba farmers urged to protect both themselves and their livestock from wildfire smoke and have a comprehensive evacuation plan ready in case of emergency situations

Manitoba farmers urged to protect both themselves and their livestock from the health impacts of wildfire smoke and have a comprehensive evacuation plan ready in case of emergency situations.

Agronomists take a look at how the two worst wildfire seasons on record affected crops.  |  Alberta government photo

Wildfire smoke’s crop yield impact thought to be minimal

Agronomists say there’s little production hit for the wide areas where smoke plumes pass over, but risks do exist

The last two years have had the worst wildfire seasons ever recorded in Canada. While yield impact was minimal and agronomists say smoke may even have benefits for crops in some cases, a future with more destructive wildfire seasons could have negative long-term effects, experts warn. Grain Farmers of Ontario senior agronomist Marty Vermey noted […] Read more


The first major and obvious impact is the effect of smoke on temperatures. Smoke particles both scatter and absorb sunlight, which leads to lower surface temperatures. | Getty Images

Smoke and weather are a complex combination

Smoke and its effects can vary greatly depending on the state of the atmosphere, amount of smoke and where in the atmosphere it is located. The first major and obvious impact is the effect of smoke on temperatures. Smoke particles both scatter and absorb sunlight, which leads to lower surface temperatures. Daytime temperatures often don’t […] Read more

A single bee is about to land on the yellow flower of a canola plant.

Recent rain helps bee producers hurt by dry conditions

Wildfire smoke has slowed the bees while the fires have forced animals such as bears into areas where hives are located

Prairie beekeepers facing dry conditions and wildfire smoke are welcoming recent rain as they deal with warmer weather that initially helped them after a cold start this spring. “It was getting extremely dry in certain areas,” said executive director Rod Scarlett of the Canadian Honey Council. “This is, just as I say, it’s kind of […] Read more



Smoke and flames can be seen rising hundreds of feet into the air over a forest.

Air quality plummets as Alta. wildfires persist

Hot and dry weather persists in Alberta with a blanket of smoke hampering visibility for much of the province. “I’ll be very blunt. The situation does remain very volatile. We must remain vigilant,” Mike Ellis, minister of public safety and emergency services, said during the daily press conference Wednesday afternoon. “Our number one priority is […] Read more