Rain on the plains makes for good crop gains

Alberta crop conditions as of June 19, 2018

Reading Time: 2 minutes Over the past week, there were some welcome rain showers in the western parts of the province, bringing sufficient moisture to support the active growth of both annual and perennial crops. While many areas in the west of the Southern and Central Regions received at least 30 mm of rain, rainfall for the west parts […] Read more

This map, which estimates soil moisture reserves as of May 31, shows most of the province is dry to extremely dry.

Creep feeding can mitigate hay shortage

If calf prices stay around current levels, creep feeding could generate nearly $200 in extra revenue

Reading Time: 2 minutes The potential for a poor hay crop is high, and producers facing a shortage should consider creep feeding, says a provincial beef and forage specialist. “Stress on plants from last summer and fall, as well as this spring’s weather across most of Alberta has slowed forage growth in pastures and hayfields,” said Barry Yaremcio. “If […] Read more


Mixed weather finds Alberta crops, pasture, hay conditions improve

Alberta crop conditions as of June 12, 2018

Reading Time: 2 minutes Over the past week, most areas of the province received timely rains, with the highest rainfall accumulations since the beginning of June seen in the North East Region, and the lowest in the western parts of the Southern and Central Regions. This weather system was also responsible for hail and strong winds, in different parts […] Read more

Thunderstorms are powerful events in their own right, but Mother Nature has the ability to add things to the mix to make them even worse.

Mother Nature’s recipe for making very severe thunderstorms

There are some key ingredients that (usually) are 
needed to create a truly wicked summer storm

Reading Time: 3 minutes As the heat continues to build across the Prairies, the chances for thunderstorms have also increased. We began our look at thunderstorm fundamentals that lead to garden-variety thunderstorms. But while these types of thunderstorms are fun to watch, we all know how quickly they can turn into severe thunderstorms. A couple of weeks ago we […] Read more


Seeding 99 per cent complete, soil moisture conditions improve

Alberta crop conditions as of June 5, 2018

Reading Time: < 1 minute Last week just about all agriculture lands across the province received decent rain, with most areas receiving over 10mm. Three major areas received over 20 mm including western Peace, the land base along the Saskatchewan border stretching from Cold Lake down to the U.S. border and a large area west of highway 2 between Edson […] Read more

At Astrotech Space Operations in Titusville, Florida, technicians and engineers keep a watchful eye on NOAA's Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite-S (GOES-S) as it is moved to a work stand. The facility is located near NASA's Kennedy Space Center. GOES-S is the second in a series of four advanced geostationary weather satellites. The GOES-R series - consisting of the GOES-R, GOES-S, GOES-T and GOES-U spacecraft - will significantly improve the detection and observation of environmental phenomena that directly affect public safety, protection of property and the nation's economic health and prosperity. GOES-S is slated to launch March 1, 2018 aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.

Camera on new weather satellite has a glitch

Reading Time: < 1 minute The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is trying to figure out what has gone wrong with a key component of its newly launched GOES-17 weather satellite. The satellite has a high-resolution camera called the Advanced Baseline Imager that monitors things such as cloud formation, ocean dynamics, and vegetative growth. But the cooling system that is […] Read more


Dry weather offers a break for late seeding efforts

Alberta crop conditions as of May 29, 2018

Reading Time: < 1 minute Dry weather conditions helped producers catch up with late seeding and contributed to quick germination and emergence. Recent hot and windy weather lead to the increased drying of both surface soil moisture and sub-surface soil moisture. The forecasted cooler temperatures and scattered showers throughout the province are anticipated to aid overall crop growing conditions. Provincially, […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Water Management Research Unit, ARS/USDA)

U.S. grains: Corn sags on long liquidation, favourable crop conditions

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn futures fell on Friday on technical selling including fund-driven long liquidation along with strong crop prospects amid mostly favourable weather in the U.S. Midwest, analysts said. Wheat futures also declined as the U.S. winter wheat harvest began while soybeans closed firm as traders awaited news from U.S.-China trade talks […] Read more


Seeding makes good progress, surface soil moisture levels declining

Alberta crop conditions as of May 22, 2018

Reading Time: < 1 minute Warm and dry weather over the past week provided favourable conditions for seeding operations in most of the province. Provincially, seeding progress has increased 30 per cent from a week ago, to 67 per cent complete, compared to the 5-year average (2013-2017) of 83 per cent. Regionally, seeding progress is most advanced in the Southern […] Read more