Canada’s major railways have filed their winter contingency plans as required by law. Since a new law was passed in 2018, Canada’s major rail companies are required to publish winter plans and can be forced to pay up if they fail to deliver on certain promises of rail cars. That law came into effect after […] Read more
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Widespread frost blankets Prairies
UPDATED - to include record temps - Tuesday September 8, 2020 - 1300 CST Widespread frost advisories on the Prairies…
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Fall weather forecast bodes well for harvest
Forecasters say western Canadian farmers are in for a much more benign fall than last year, which should help calm…
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Bumper crop? Not so fast, say some farmers
Jim Doerksen scoffs at reports that a bumper crop is on the way for the Canadian Prairies. At one point…
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Fierce storm flattens crops across U.S. Midwest
Washington (Reuters) — U.S. President Donald Trump said Aug. 17 he approved federal disaster aid for Iowa after a hurricane-force…
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Weather cuts French wheat crop estimate
PARIS (Reuters) — France’s farm ministry lowered its estimate of the 2020 soft wheat harvest to 29.71 million tonnes, down…
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Hailstorms more severe this year
Fast and furious characterizes July hailstorms across the Prairies. “Almost one storm every day,” said Rick Omelchenko, president of the…
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Stories from our other publications
Railways insist they are prepared for winter
Government required capital spending justification for optimism
Prairie breeders explore heat-tolerance rating
Regionally specific canola varieties may eventually become reality, but breeding for specific traits may not be the answer
Many farmers, especially in Saskatchewan, are blaming hot and dry weather for disappointing canola yields. Official numbers won’t be in for a while, but Saskatchewan Agriculture has pegged the provincial yield average at 35 bushels per acre. That’s much lower than average yields of 40 to 41 bu. per acre in recent years, based on […] Read more
Many crops may have dodged frost
Crop damage from an overnight frost in Saskatchewan earlier this month is still being assessed but appears minimal for some crops and potentially crushing for others. Crops extension specialist Shannon Friesen said although the temperatures dropped quite low in some areas, the damage depends on how long the frost lasted and the location and maturity […] Read more
Widespread frost blankets Prairies
UPDATED – to include record temps – Tuesday September 8, 2020 – 1300 CST Widespread frost advisories on the Prairies materialized through most of Saskatchewan’s agricultural area overnight Sept. 7, breaking records that were 100 years old in some cases. Environment Canada meteorologist Terri Lang said this morning that 20 records were broken and one […] Read more
Fall weather forecast bodes well for harvest
Forecasters say western Canadian farmers are in for a much more benign fall than last year, which should help calm the harvest nerves. “You sleep a lot better at night if you put in a long day on the combine,” said Todd Lewis, president of the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan. “It’s a lot more […] Read more
Bumper crop? Not so fast, say some farmers
A prolonged heat wave has prevented cereal and canola crops from filling seed heads and pods, say crop watchers
Jim Doerksen scoffs at reports that a bumper crop is on the way for the Canadian Prairies. At one point he thought that was going to be the case on his son’s farm near Dalmeny, Sask. but a late-July/early-August heat wave has sapped yield potential and quality. “It had a terrific start but the last […] Read more
Fierce storm flattens crops across U.S. Midwest
Washington (Reuters) — U.S. President Donald Trump said Aug. 17 he approved federal disaster aid for Iowa after a hurricane-force storm hit last week, causing widespread damage in towns and farms and leaving thousands without power. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds said on August 16 that she requested about $4 billion in emergency funds following the […] Read more
Weather cuts French wheat crop estimate
PARIS (Reuters) — France’s farm ministry lowered its estimate of the 2020 soft wheat harvest to 29.71 million tonnes, down 1.6 million tonnes from its initial forecast last month and now 25 percent below last year’s crop, due to the continued effects of adverse weather. The reduced forecast was 16 percent lower than the average […] Read more
Hailstorms more severe this year
Fast and furious characterizes July hailstorms across the Prairies. “Almost one storm every day,” said Rick Omelchenko, president of the Canadian Crop Hail Association. “The hailstorms are smaller in size but more severe in the centre and then taper off really quickly,” he said July 29. “Some crops are smashed to pieces. There’s been some […] Read more
Flooding aftermath lingers in northwest Sask.
Some cattle producers have faced flood damage for the last 11 years and the stress and frustration are mounting
Scott Campbell’s cattle operation near Meadow Lake, Sask., should be all green pasture this time of year. Instead, a dike is the only visible land. Pasture, once destined to feed his cattle, is under water. The Beaver River started to flood June 9 and has covered pastures at the ranch, which Campbell farms with his […] Read more
