(Dave Bedard photo)

Flax growers scout soggy fields as prices edge upward

CNS Canada — Producers are assessing the effects of weekend rains that soaked flax crops in Western Canada, while prices have ticked up slightly as data reflects shrinking acres. Flax fields in western Manitoba saw thunderstorms and powerful winds, which knocked out power in some areas of the province during the weekend. Parts of southeastern […] Read more

A wheat crop in standing water. (Colton Yoder photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

Wet wheat weather watched worldwide

CNS Canada — Generous rainfall has benefited but also boosted the risk of disease on wheat crops in much of Canada and the U.S., and has also cut into grain quality in parts of Europe. However, according to Drew Lerner of U.S. forecast agency World Weather Inc., conditions during the harvest season will be the […] Read more


Eastern Ontario, parts of the Near North and a region bounded by Essex to Niagara are the worst hit by excessive dryness. (Map courtesy Weather INnovations)

Pearce: Precipitation maps have Ontario farmers seeing red

It’s official: Spring 2016 will go down as an excessively dry season for Ontario growers — and most hope the summer will be considerably wetter. Last week, we cited reports of stressed-but-surviving corn and soybean crops in midwestern Ontario, which had received spotty showers early in the week. The crops were showing signs of drought-stress […] Read more

A sclerotinia-infected canola stem. Eastern Prairie crops are expected to face added disease pressure. (Photo courtesy Canola Council of Canada)

Rain increases disease pressures on eastern Prairies

CNS Canada — The recent batch of wet weather across parts of Saskatchewan and Manitoba have been a welcome relief to some fields that were suffering from excess dryness. However, soggy conditions have also enabled certain disease pressures to rear their ugly head, according to some government specialists. “Root rot is showing up in peas […] Read more


Severe weather causing problems for Manitoba crops

CNS Canada — Manitoba was pummelled over the weekend with heavy rains, winds and even hail in some areas, leaving various crops around the province a little beat up. “It’s a little too early to say what the final impact will be, but crops that saw that severe weather system did see some crop damage,” […] Read more



(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Prairie forage crops perk up with precipitation

CNS Canada — It’s been a slow start for forage crops growing across the Prairies, but the much-needed precipitation is better late than never. “The rain has been a huge help,” said Karin Lindquist, forage specialist with Alberta’s Ag-Info Centre in Stettler. “There are still some areas that could use a bit more, but so […] Read more

A Canada thistle seedling. (Photo courtesy Canola Council of Canada)

Rain holds up spraying as weeds thrive in Manitoba

CNS Canada –– A steady dose of rain to start the week has put a crimp on herbicide applications across Manitoba. While weeds weren’t noticeable a few weeks ago due to the relative dryness, they’re definitely becoming more noticeable, according to crop watchers. “We know that with the rain and warmer temperatures, both the crops […] Read more



Averaged sea surface temperatures and sea surface temperature anomalies worldwide for the week centred on Feb. 3. (CPC.ncep.noaa.gov)

Timing of La Nina to play key role in Prairie moisture

CNS Canada –– As the El Nino weather phenomena slowly loosens its grip across Western Canada, many weather watchers say its impact has been somewhat underwhelming. However, one meteorologist said its lingering presence, coupled with the pending arrival of the La Nina weather event, may still play a large role in determining how much moisture […] Read more