Earth’s oceans cover over 70 per cent of the planet’s surface, and they are a massive heat sink, absorbing more than 90 per cent of the excess heat trapped by greenhouse gases.
A wetter and drier world is coming for Prairie farmers
As warming supercharges the water cycle, the swings will become more pronounced
How plants conserve moisture in dry conditions
Plants do best when they have a little more moisture than they immediately require
In order to take in carbon dioxide to perform photosynthesis, a plant loses water vapour to the atmosphere as the stomata open. To counteract this, a steady supply of water is needed — hence what’s called the “transpiration paradox.”
Prairie forecast: Two lows and a high
Forecast issued April 2, covering April 2 to 9, 2025
This forecast period looks to be be defined by two areas of low pressure, one spinning off the west coast and the other spinning over eastern Canada. Exactly how these two lows behave a move will have a big impact on temperatures across the central and eastern Prairies.
Moisture outlook positive for spring seeding on Prairies
That said, a cold wet winter that brought snow to many places is raising concerns of delayed seeding
A lot of Prairie producers gathered at CropConnect in Winnipeg are wondering how moisture conditions will shape up this spring on the Prairies. The concerns revolve around a considerable snowpack in many places — and whether that might lead to saturated fields or a late start to seeding, if snowmelt comes too late or too quickly.
Tiny allies may help canola push through drought
Federal researchers examine soil microbes to see if they can help a crop withstand dry times
Researchers with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in Saskatoon are studying the microbes that live near the roots of canola plants to see if the answers to developing drought tolerance can be found in the soil.
Prairie forecast: Spring storm could bring significant snow
Forecast issued March 26, covering March 26 to April 2, 2025
We start this forecast period with a strong area of low pressure pushing in off the southern coast of B.C. This low will bring very mild temperatures to southern Alberta on Wednesday and into Thursday. It will then help to develop an area of low pressure over south-central regions early Thursday morning.
Transition to drought expected to be swifter this year
Fractions of a degree of change in ocean tempartures impacts weather patterns for ag producers in caring for their livestock and crops
Agriculture across the globe is closely linked to La Niña and El Niño when it comes to setting the weather stage for the next growing season.
Spring weather to dominate first half of March
Large parts of Argentina, Brazil to be dry
Be it the Canadian Prairies or the United States Midwest, spring-like weather is on its way for the first couple of weeks of March, said Drew Lerner, president and chief agricultural meteorologist for World Weather Inc. in Overland, Kan. Meanwhile, the dryness that has dominated parts of Argentina and Brazil is likely to continue for the next several weeks.
U.S. hail insurer looks northward
Farmers Mutual Hail Insurance Co. of Iowa has made its first venture outside the U.S., buying the 80 per cent of Prairie crop hail insurance firm Palliser Insurance it didn’t already own, for an undisclosed amount. FMH CEO Shannon Rutledge said in a release in February that Palliser’s “regional expertise, knowledge and accomplishments…will contribute to […] Read more
Project to take high-level look at ag emissions
A CBC tower will be used to monitor nitrous oxide on the Prairies
Glacier FarmMedia — A group of researchers, policy makers and producer organizations is repurposing part of a CBC transmission tower to get data on agriculture’s greenhouse gas emissions. The tower at Yorkton, Sask., will be fitted with sensors to measure agricultural nitrous oxide emissions 100 metres above the ground. The group, dubbed CanN20net, held its […] Read more
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