Reading Time: 4 minutes This summer I have crisscrossed this great country of ours. I started in early July heading east into the Muskoka region of Ontario to compete in an Ironman 70.3 triathlon. After spending a couple of weeks there, I returned home and did some quick gardening before heading west to Canmore for a wedding. What a […] Read more
Red sky at night? Maybe. But snow from fog in August?
Our weather columnist analyzes some common sayings, and would like to hear some more
China’s farmers struggle to save crops as heatwave, drought drag on
Chongqing | Reuters — As the tinder-dry countryside along China’s Yangtze river basin withers under a heatwave that has lasted more than two months, veteran farmer Chen Xiaohua recalled the last severe drought to hit his crops more than 60 years ago. “This year is drier than 1960,” said Chen, 68, from his plot of […] Read more
Pulse weekly outlook: Chickpea harvest approaches amid low worldwide supplies
MarketsFarm — The harvest for Western Canada’s chickpea crop is about to begin and it comes at a time when worldwide supplies of the pulse are at a low point. Colin Young, manager of Mid-West Grain Ltd. at Moose Jaw, Sask., said there are varying chickpea yields in the western Prairie region, where most of […] Read more
Dry weather hits French wheat crop
Reading Time: < 1 minute French consultancy Agritel said July 26 it expects the soft wheat crop in France to fall 5.6 per cent this year after adverse weather. “French producers have had to deal with frost, drought, hail and scorching temperatures. These phenomena affected most of France with different degrees of intensity,” Agritel said in a statement. Its estimate […] Read more
Iqaluit declares state of emergency over water shortage
Ottawa | Reuters — The northern Canadian city of Iqaluit declared a state of emergency on Friday after scarce rain this year left water levels in the local Apex River at a four-decade low. Iqaluit warned it may not have enough water in its reservoir to sustain its population of about 7,800 when a freeze-up […] Read more
La Nina conditions to continue, but odds lower into winter
Reuters — Chances for La Niña are expected to gradually decrease from 86 per cent in the coming season to 60 per cent during December to February in 2022-23, a U.S. government weather forecaster said on Thursday. The La Niña weather pattern is characterized by unusually cold temperatures in the equatorial Pacific Ocean. According to […] Read more
Insurance available for lightning and fire damage
Annual crop or hay fields insured under Straight Hail Insurance have the same spot-loss coverage as Hail Endorsement
Reading Time: < 1 minute It’s summertime in Alberta, and with the season comes an increased potential for volatile storm activity. Depending on your insurance coverage with Agriculture Financial Services Corporation (AFSC), you may have protection against losses related to lightning strikes and accidental fires. “Agriculture is filled with unpredictable events, including the weather,” said Ken Handford, senior product co-ordinator. […] Read more
The severe weather event feared by farmers and new-car owners alike
Alberta’s higher elevation makes it the hail capital of Canada
Reading Time: 3 minutes Let’s look at what is probably the most feared and costly summer severe weather event: hail. How expensive can hail be? To put it into perspective, on June 13, 2020, a severe hailstorm hit Calgary, causing an estimated $1.2 billion in insurance damage, which ranks as one of the top five most expensive natural disasters […] Read more
ICE weekly outlook: Late canola crop hinges on weather
MarketsFarm — The ICE Futures canola market held within a narrow range during the week ended Wednesday, with weather conditions heading into harvest likely to dictate the eventual price direction over the next few weeks. “The key right now is the late state of the crop,” said Errol Anderson of ProMarket Communications in Calgary, noting […] Read more
U.S. grains: Corn, wheat futures extend gains on crop risks
Wheat market also weighs prospects for more Ukraine exports
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Board of Trade corn and wheat futures rose on Wednesday, as hot, dry weather in parts of the U.S. and Europe kept attention on harvest risks, while soybeans settled lower after notching contract highs. Traders also adjusted positions ahead of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) monthly supply and demand […] Read more
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