Thick smoke from northern fires can be seen in the distance while an older seeder and a steel grain bin are visible in the foreground.

Wildfires have unexpected upside this year

Smoke from this year’s wildfires helped counter extreme heat and scorching sun, benefitting the Prairie canola crop

One farmer feels smoke from nearby wildfires shrouded the July skies and protected his crop from the sun’s burning rays, resulting in more seeds per pod and more pods per plant.




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