AAFC’s Drought Monitor map as of May 31, 2023.

Drought expands across Canadian Prairies

Dry conditions push eastward in Manitoba

Reading Time: 2 minutes MarketsFarm — Warm and dry conditions across much of the Prairies in May caused drought conditions to worsen, especially in Alberta, according to the latest Drought Monitor report from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. As of May 31, an estimated 79 per cent of the Prairie region was classified as abnormally dry (D0) or in moderate […] Read more

(Dave Bedard photo)

Hot, dry weather creates ‘significant uncertainty,’ AAFC says

Reading Time: < 1 minute MarketsFarm — Supply/demand balance sheets for Canada’s major crops only saw minor adjustments in the latest update Tuesday from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, with hot and dry growing conditions leading to “significant uncertainty” on the state of the country’s 2021-22 crops. Total field crop production in the country was forecast to decrease due to a […] Read more


The Canada 150 emblem in a durum field. (Agr.gc.ca)

Durum markets rattled as harvest set to start

Reading Time: 3 minutes CNS Canada — With the durum wheat harvest rapidly approaching in Western Canada, many analysts wonder how the dry conditions and extreme heat will affect yields. Yet there is one aspect about this year’s crop they already know. Increased seeded acreage this spring, and market access problems hindering longer-term durum sales, mean farmers might want […] Read more

Rye production could fall 25 per cent, analyst says

Reading Time: < 1 minute CNS Canada — This year’s Canadian rye harvest appears positioned to carry on the crop’s recent trend with another production decline. Dry conditions in many regions of the Prairies and ergot in Manitoba are expected to drive down yields. Jonathan Hull of The Scoular Co. said he has been hearing from farmers that yields could […] Read more


Ripe soybeans near Morden, Man. on Sept. 14, 2017. (Allan Dawson photo)

Manitoba soybean acreage predictions mixed

Reading Time: 2 minutes CNS Canada — While some in the soybean sector think Statistics Canada is right about its predictions for a decline in Manitoba acres, others think plantings should still end up close to the record in 2017. Statistics Canada is predicting soybean acres in Manitoba to drop to 1.96 million from 2.29 million, according to its […] Read more

Southern Saskatchewan dry, but Prairies mostly OK for now

Reading Time: 3 minutes CNS Canada — Dry conditions in southern Saskatchewan are cause for vigilance, but rain could still pull out a healthy harvest, according to a provincial soil and nutrient specialist. The area of concern lies within a triangle shape, with the northern tip at Saskatoon, one arm stretching southeast to Weyburn, Estevan and the U.S. border, […] Read more


(MGEX.com)

U.S. grains: Spring wheat sets three-year top on weather woes

Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. spring wheat futures charged to a three-year high on Thursday, fueled by fears that continued dry conditions in the northern U.S. Plains would cut supply of high-protein milling wheat. The surge in spring wheat futures on the Minneapolis Grain Exchange (MGEX) also lifted Chicago Board of Trade wheat to a […] Read more

Western Prairies see low yields as harvest ramps up

Reading Time: 2 minutes CNS Canada –– This summer’s erratic weather has taken its toll on plant development in Alberta and parts of western Saskatchewan, according to crop-watchers in those areas. “We have heard that dry conditions have caused plants (peas) to slough off or have the tillers dry off and have lost those heads,” said Barry Yaremcio at […] Read more


(Dave Bedard photo)

FCC to offer breaks on loans in Sask., Alta.

Reading Time: < 1 minute Customers of Farm Credit Canada in parched areas of Alberta and Saskatchewan may be able to get breaks on their outstanding loan payments. FCC on Monday announced it would work with affected customers on “solutions for their operation(s)” such as deferral of principal payments and/or otherwise amending their loan payment schedules. The offer applies to […] Read more

Thirsty Alta. crops could use a drink, analyst says

Reading Time: < 1 minute CNS Canada — Alberta’s dry weather and cooler nights have hit some crops in the province hard, but one specialist says he isn’t worried yet. Neil Whatley, a crop specialist with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry in Stettler, said only some parts of the province have seen rain. “There’s no general rain, just showers. Where there’s […] Read more