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.
Tag Archives Climate
A wetter and drier world is coming for Prairie farmers
As warming supercharges the water cycle, the swings will become more pronounced
USDA announces new interim rule for biofuel guidelines
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a new interim rule on Jan. 15, 2025 to aid production of biofuel feedstock crops as well as promote climate-smart agriculture.
Payoffs and pressures for cereals in a changing Prairie climate
Warmer, wetter, longer growing seasons carry risks as well as rewards
Cereal crops in Western Canada will be influenced by climate change in the coming years — but the impact will depend on both the crop and the primary area of Western Canada where it’s grown. Barley and oats are grown primarily in the cooler regions of the Prairies and will benefit from a longer growing […] Read more
What are atmospheric rivers and why do they cause flooding?
Atmospheric rivers are storms akin to rivers in the sky that dump massive amounts of rain and can cause flooding, trigger mudslides and result in loss of life and enormous property damage.
Changing weather, changing varieties
With growing conditions in flux, adaptability is a consideration for soybean developers
Climate change has had a huge impact on farm operations in Western Canada for some time. Those shifting temperatures and weather patterns are also playing a key role in how future varieties are being developed. Grainews recently spoke with several prominent seed companies about new soybean varieties they have in the development pipeline and the […] Read more
Editor’s Rant: Seeds, saved
Against a changing climate, this is how we adapt
Before we all get much farther into this book, it needs to be said: Folks, we’re not trying to bright-side climate change here. It’s far beyond dispute that Earth’s climate is changing — in part due to natural factors over time such as changes in the sun’s radiation and the occasional volcano, but mainly due […] Read more
Canola’s changing climes
Trends in the Prairies’ climate should generally be net good for canola crops, even as pest pressures here adjust accordingly
Canola cropping patterns in the Prairies may have to adapt to climate change in the coming years — but the changes should be relatively positive for production. Canola area continues to be the leader in Western Canada, with a total of 21.9 million acres sown this year according to Statistics Canada. This is over 3.2 […] Read more
Farmworkers in the US cultivate their own heat safety standards
Fair Food Program seeks to circumvent slow regulatory process
While regulations to protect agricultural workers from the heat have been held up by political wrangling, Gonzalo and her colleagues have spearheaded an alternate strategy. They seek to sidestep the slow and increasingly politicized government machinery and instead appeal directly to consumers and large brands.
A climate update for our neck of the woods
You'll want to keep your long underwear handy for the next several winters
I have been tinkering with climate data for about the past 15 years. Thanks to the folks at the Swift Current, Sask. federal ag research station, I now have complete monthly temperature and precipitation data from 1886 to 2023. That adds five years to my last summary, so we will now do the update. Weather […] Read more
Research looks into drought’s lingering effects on grasslands
A global project will provide valuable insights as droughts increase, an Alberta scientist says
Glacier FarmMedia — A global study is examining the surprising ways short-term droughts can affect grasslands. “It’s not surprising that less water is going to lead to less plant growth. We’re all very familiar with that,” said Cameron Carlyle, associate professor of rangeland ecology in the Faculty of Agricultural, Life and Environmental Sciences at the […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
