A few years back I checked on a number of canola and grain fields north of Edmonton that had been heavily hailed in late June. All the fields, encompassing several thousand acres, looked like chopped vegetable salads. The owners talked wipeouts for the season but I advised them to wait a few weeks. Well, by late July all the fields were growing well and healthy in a good-moisture year, but obviously a month behind in crop maturity. At the end of a rainy summer and a long frost-free fall, all of the growers in the hailed area took off crops close to their target yields.

Thunderstorms with heavy rain and little or no hail can, depending on intensity, produce as much as five to 10 lb. of nitrate per acre from the reactive nitrogen dioxide produced by the lightning. Such storms contribute as much as one seventh of the planet’s fixed nitrogen fertilizer.

When you observe a thunderstorm, you’ll see the lightning bolts of the storm repeatedly strike into the ground, unless of course there is some high-ground tower nearby. Have you ever wondered what that lightning bolt did when it hit the Earth?

My first test came in Ontario in 1972 when I was checking out a rutabaga crop that was partially infested on a lower part of the field with clubroot. For your information, a rutabaga is just a winter annual Argentine canola. I found there was 100 per cent infection of the rutabagas in this lower part — but there was one healthy rutabaga, plumb in the middle of this group. I dug up this rutabaga and replanted it in a University of Guelph greenhouse, thinking that I had discovered a new kind of resistance, only to find there were already clubroot-resistant rutabagas readily available but customers did not like the varieties. They preferred the very clubroot-susceptible Laurentian rutabaga.

The grower then took me to other parts of the hilly rutabaga field and pointed out several dead, damaged areas of rutabagas. These damaged rutabagas were in roughly circular patches 10 to 15 feet in diameter. The rutabagas were dead and wilted in the middle of the circles, but healthy on the outer edges. I guessed and said “lightning bolts” – the grower smiled and said yes. He said he’d seen these spots on his lightning-prone cropland for years before he figured out the answer. He complimented me on my guess.

Subsequently, in travelling around Prairie cropland in Western Canada over the years, I pointed out many times that these diseased “spots” in canola, potato and cereal croplands were lightning strikes, to the relative amazement of many farmers. I even diagnosed a “diseased” farm vegetable garden in the Peace region that was indeed a lightning strike.

Bolted down

Unfortunately, lightning strikes can be far more destructive when peat and forest land are involved. I remember talking to Canadian forestry researchers at Edmonton in 1986 about lightning damage The personnel showed one aerial photograph of forest stands in Alberta’s foothills with brown/bleached specks dotted here and there. Again, I guessed lightning damage, as a good guess, and they were very surprised. It had taken them a few years to arrive at lightning bolts as the cause.

The lightning strikes during rainstorms, which killed off groups of trees, did not result in forest fires. Now, with drier weather conditions in recent years, these lightning strikes have frequently started forest fires. The persistence of up to 60 or more of these forest fires in Alberta, for example, is due to dry or fairly dry peat bogs. The irony is that we have people who oppose peat harvesting for horticultural soil mixes without the thought that these drying bogs become major fire hazards during dry windy summers. Peat bog fires can last for years. Vast areas of Russia’s Siberian forests have been severely damaged by fires, due to fire control failures and indiscriminate peat harvesting and drainage projects.

Trouble in the trees

Another aspect of lightning damage is the surprising number of tree “kills.” When you notice in particular very large spruce trees, especially around the more southern Prairie farmsteads, you often see one or more dead spruce trees in the farm shelterbelt or individual dead specimens. It could be disease, or perhaps prolonged spring flooding, but a very common cause is lightning.

Over the years I have been asked to look at specimens of dead spruce trees, both white and Colorado spruce, in cities and rural areas. Many times, I have diagnosed lightning strikes as the cause. How do I know? When lightning hits a spruce tree in, let’s say, August, nothing is obvious. Unfortunately, by May or June the following year, the tree is obviously dead. If indeed lightning was the cause then the lower four to five feet, if not trimmed, will still be green. If the spruce tree is close to a house, the spruce can be healthy green up to the house eaves. Lightning will jump the last few feet into the house or ground. In a shelterbelt, lightning may kill one to perhaps four or five adjacent trees.

Remember, lightning strikes are very common on the Prairies, so when you see these odd dead patches of cropland or suddenly dead spruce trees, think of those summer storms. If lightning hits a cottonwood or pine tree it usually causes the upper branches to split severely, damaging the tree, which may not be killed, as with a spruce tree.

On the old fable that lightning never strikes twice in the same place, I have proof that it can and does. The Leduc Rugby Club (near Edmonton) has had to replace one of its 40-foot (13-metre) goal posts twice in two years, due to them being shattered by lightning strikes at the exact same spot.

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Harvesting in the state of Western Australia is around halfway complete.

WHY IT MATTERS: Western Australia is the largest crop exporting region of Australia, one of the world’s biggest shippers of grains and canola seed.

Large Australian production will put downward pressure on global prices. Benchmark Chicago wheat futures fell to their lowest levels since 2020 in October amid abundant global supply.

In a monthly crop report, GIWA cut its estimate for Western Australian wheat production by 50,000 metric tons to 13 million tons.

It trimmed its expectations for barley by 50,000 tons to 7.42 million tons and for canola by 130,000 tons to 4.17 million tons.

Those forecasts compare with average production over the last five years in the state of 11.2 million tons of wheat, 5.2 million tons of barley and 2.8 million tons of canola.

Western Australia has been at the forefront of rising productivity in Australia, where farmers have increased yields despite declining growing-season rainfall.

GIWA said the speed of the harvest in some areas had put strain on infrastructure and logistics and in some cases slowed progress.

Wheat grain quality has been mixed but barley quality has been mostly very good, the higher-than-expected yields often being driven by larger seed size, it said.

Earlier this month, the Australian government said it expected national production this season of 35.6 million tons of wheat, the third-biggest harvest on record, 15.7 million tons of barley, a record amount, and 7.2 million tons of canola, the second-most on record.

Following are GIWA’s December estimates and comparisons with last month’s forecasts and last season’s production. Crop numbers are in metric tons.

— Reporting by Peter Hobson

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The provincial harvest was virtually complete at 99 per cent, said Saskatchewan’s weekly crop report released on Oct. 30. This year’s crops were harvested later than usual due to rainfall throughout the growing season and uneven crop staging. Cool July temperatures slowed development, but crop staging evened out and prevented harvest delays. Pests like bertha armyworm, cabbage seedpod weevil and Richardsons ground squirrel also posed challenges in some regions.

All crop types in Saskatchewan yielded higher than their 10-year averages. Winter wheat crops yielded 44.1 bushels per acre and fall rye yielded 52.6 bu./ac. For spring cereal crops, oats had the biggest yield at 94.4 bu./ac., followed by barley at 70. Hard spring wheat was 51.5 bu./ac. and other spring wheat was 55.5. Durum yielded 39.4 bu./ac. and triticale yielded 25.3. Canary seed saw 1,354 pounds per acre, while field peas were at 40.8 bu./ac, lentils at 1,785.5 lbs./ac. and chickpeas yielded 1,716.2 lbs./ac. Oilseed crops were the last to come off, yielding 42.4 bu./ac. for canola, 39.6 for soybeans, 26.6 for flax and 880.1 lbs./ac. for mustard.

As of Oct. 20, mustard was 99 per cent combined, followed by 98 per cent for canola, 94 per cent for flax, 91 per cent for chickpeas and 87 per cent for soybeans.

Related: Large wheat supply pressures prices

Most crops graded in the top two quality categories, but some downgrading was reported due to dry conditions, pest activity and late-season rain. Canola quality was higher than the 10-year average as crops graded 86 per cent 1 Canada, 13 per cent 2 CAN and one per cent 3 CAN. For pulses, field peas graded 41 per cent 1 CAN, 52 per cent 2 CAN and seven per cent 3 CAN, while lentils graded 22 per cent 1 CAN, 59 per cent 2 CAN, 17 per cent 3 CAN and two per cent Sample.

Spring wheat was rated as 63 per cent 1 Canada Western, 29 per cent 2 CW, six per cent 3 CW and two per cent CW Feed, while barley was rated as 27 per cent malt, 60 per cent 1 CW and 13 per cent 2 CW and Sample.

Average silage yields in the province this year were 5.82 tons per acre, which is lower than the 6.37 tons/ac. reported last year. Provincially, dryland hay yields were 1.39 tons/ac. for alfalfa, 1.32 for brome hay, 1.19 for tame hay, 1.33 for baled forage and 2.14 for greenfeed. The first cut hay crop was rated as 11 per cent excellent, 63 per cent good, 22 per cent fair and four per cent poor. Producers who were able to do a second hay cut reported that 24 per cent was excellent, 47 per cent was good, 19 per cent was fair and 10 per cent was poor quality.

Cropland topsoil moisture was rated at four per cent surplus, 55 per cent adequate, 33 per cent short and eight per cent very short. For hayland areas, topsoil moisture was three per cent surplus, 51 per cent adequate, 36 per cent short and 10 per cent very short. For pastures, topsoil moisture was two per cent surplus, 38 per cent adequate, 45 per cent short and 15 per cent very short. Significant rainfall and snow are needed in the coming months to replenish soil moisture levels for next spring, especially in western regions.

Most pastures reflect the soil moisture ratings quite closely. Provincially, three per cent of pastures were in excellent condition, 29 per cent were good, 37 per cent were fair, 21 per cent were poor and 10 per cent were in very poor condition.

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The province’s agriculture department reported 99.4 per cent of Alberta’s major crops were combined as of Oct. 14, 3.1 points more than in the previous week, compared to the five-year average of 97 per cent and the 10-year average of 83 per cent. The northwest region’s harvest was 100 per cent complete, while the central region was at 98.9 per cent. All other regions were within one point of finishing operations.

The harvests for all major crops were either completion or less than a point away from completion, except for canola at 98.5 per cent.

Despite recent rain and snowfall in some areas, the added moisture wasn’t enough to improve fall-seeded crop quality provincewide. The northeast and northwest regions saw improvement from the past week, while the south region was steady and the central region declined. Crops in the south region were rated at 51 per cent good to excellent, compared to 26 per cent in the northwest, 16 per cent in the central region and 11 per cent in the northeast. There were no fall-seeded crops reported in the Peace region.

Provincially, surface moisture conditions were down slightly to 16 per cent good to excellent, below the five-year average of 40 per cent. Regionally, surface moisture conditions rated good to excellent were at 22 per cent in the south region, nine per cent in the central region, seven per cent in the northeast, 22 per cent in the northwest and 29 per cent in the Peace region.

Sub-surface moisture conditions rated good to excellent remained steady at 18 per cent, below the five-year average of 37 per cent. Regional good to excellent ratings for sub-surface soil moisture was at 23 per cent in the south, 13 per cent in the central, 10 per cent in the northeast, 19 per cent in the northwest and 30 per cent in the Peace region. Most parts of the province are entering winter with dry soil conditions and average or higher winter snowfall, as well as spring precipitation will be needed to replenish soil moisture and support crop and forage growth in the coming season.

Most producers had already begun moving cattle off pastures and feeding livestock at home. Provincial pastures with good to excellent growth conditions declined by two points to 15 per cent, below the five-year average of 29 per cent. Regional good to excellent pasture conditions were at 29 per cent in the south region, five per cent in the central region, one per cent in the northeast, 14 per cent in the northwest, and 27 per cent in the Peace region.

Provincially, forage reserves were rated at 10 per cent deficit, 19 per cent possible shortfall, 62 per cent adequate, and nine per cent surplus. The feed grain reserves were rated at three per cent deficit, nine per cent possible shortfall, 76 per cent adequate and 12 per cent surplus.

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The provincial harvest was 98 per cent complete as of Oct. 13, said the Saskatchewan government’s weekly crop report released on Oct. 16. The harvest might have been completed if rain and snow hadn’t fallen in some regions last weekend. The Strasbourg area in the south-central part of the province received the most precipitation at 52 millimetres.

All spring and winter cereal crops were combined, while canola was 98 per cent harvested and the mustard harvest was 95 per cent complete. Canary seed was 92 per cent finished, followed by chickpeas at 88 per cent, flax at 87 per cent and soybeans at 83 per cent.

Topsoil moisture for cropland was rated at seven per cent surplus, 53 per cent adequate, 30 per cent short and 10 per cent very short. For hayland areas, it was five per cent surplus, 49 per cent adequate, 33 per cent short and 13 per cent very short. For pastures, topsoil moisture was three per cent surplus, 36 per cent adequate, 42 per cent short and 19 per cent very short.

The supply of hay was nine per cent surplus, 82 per cent adequate and nine per cent short. Greenfeed was six per cent surplus, 89 per cent adequate and five per cent short. Silage was six per cent surplus, 92 per cent adequate and two per cent short. Straw was 14 per cent surplus, 78 per cent adequate and eight per cent short. Feed grain was 11 per cent surplus, 85 per cent adequate and four per cent short.

Wind, frost and snowfall caused minor amounts of damage to the crops remaining in the field, as well as wildlife and migratory birds feeding on crops and grain bags. Producers were spraying for weeds, applying fertilizer, harrowing fields and servicing equipment as the harvest nears its completion. Livestock producers were moving cattle home for winter, as well as hauling bales and marketing livestock.

The province will release its final crop report on Oct. 30.

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Manitoba crops were 93 per cent combined as of Oct. 13, six points more than the previous week, said the province’s weekly crop report released on Oct. 15. All regions saw at least 14 millimetres of precipitation while snow accumulated in parts of the northwest. The Pas received the most precipitation at 65.7 mm. Winds exceeding 60 kilometres per hour were also felt in most regions. Nevertheless, harvest progress in all regions ranged from 91 to 98 per cent.

The barley and oat harvests were 99 per cent complete, while canola and dry beans were 96 per cent finished. Soybeans were 90 per cent complete while potatoes were at 84 per cent. Silage corn and flax were at 77 and 76 per cent, respectively, while grain corn lagged at 42 per cent and sunflowers trailed all crops at 17 per cent.

Winter cereal planting is complete with most of them in the three-leaf stage. Spring wheat yields averaged 60 bushels per acre with some fields showing yields up to 90 bu./ac. Barley yields ranged from 65 to 110 bu./ac., while oats ranged from 110 to 130 bu./ac. However, wet harvest conditions have caused a loss of quality in spring cereals.

Canola yields averaged 45 bu./ac. in a range of 30 to 70 bu./ac. The field pea harvest yielded an average of 60 bu./ac. from a range of 30 to 75 bu./ac. The soybean harvest continued with yields between 30 to 55 bu./ac. Meanwhile, the sunflower harvest was delayed due to producers waiting for them to dry.

Producers with cereal silage and native/slough hay are fighting wet conditions to wrap up their harvests. Producers are also encouraged to use management practices to promote and maintain snow cover for insulating alfalfa crowns in the winter. Pastures are now dormant with livestock now feeding on stockpiled forages, crop residue and regrowth or supplemental feed.

Livestock operations have begun weaning, but rains caused muddy conditions in pastures and corrals. Most producers have acquired sufficient amounts of feed for the winter, while hay and straw bales were being moved to wintering areas. Manure was also being spread out onto fields.

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Manitoba’s harvest advanced by 14 points to 86 per cent complete, said the province’s weekly crop report. Spring wheat was 99 per cent finished while barley and oats were 98 per cent. The canola harvest moved up to 92 per cent done while dry beans were at 90 per cent and potatoes were at 84 per cent. The soybean and silage corn harvests were at 69 per cent finished, with corn for grain at eight per cent.

The central, eastern and Interlake regions received heavy precipitation and winds gusting to 80 kilometres per hour. Sprague Lake in the eastern region received the most rain at 70.7 millimetres. However, there were a handful of locations that received less than one mm. Precipitation accumulations since May 1 were below 60 per cent of normal in the Interlake and parts of the northwest, while parts of the southwest and central regions received more than 100 per cent.

Spring wheat yields averaged 60 bushels per acre, with some yields reported to be 70 to 90 bu./ac. Quality was mostly good, but fields with delayed harvest due to wet conditions saw their wheat downgraded to feed. Oat yields ranged from 110 to 130 bu./ac., while barley yields were 65 to 110. Most corn for grain reached maturity as harvest began.

Canola yields ranged from 30 to 70 bu./ac. with an average of 45. Both flax and sunflowers were desiccated with the latter in the R8 and R9 development stages. Soybean yields ranged from 30 to 55 bu./ac.

Corn silage harvests have begun with average to above-average yields reported in most areas.

Some pastures remain in very good condition but producers are already providing supplementary feed for livestock. Producers are also considering late cuts of alfalfa as weather permits, particularly in areas that received frost damage.

Cattle were in excellent condition and remain on fall grazing pastures, hayland and harvested crop fields. Producers have started weaning and cattle are heading into markets being sold at very good prices. Most producers secured winter feed, but those in very dry areas are sourcing feed from elsewhere. Manure is starting to be spread out onto fields.

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The province’s harvest was 68 per cent complete, Saskatchewan’s weekly crop report said on Sept. 25. This was compared to the five-year average of 83 per cent and the 10-year average of 72 per cent.

Harvest progress in the southwest led all regions at 80 per cent complete, followed by the southeast at 70 per cent, the northwest at 69 per cent, the west-central region at 65 per cent, the northeast at 61 per cent and the east-central region at 59 per cent.

While Saskatchewan’s winter wheat and fall rye harvest was finished, field peas were at 99 per cent completion and lentils were 96 per cent combined. Barley was at 86 per cent, durum at 78 per cent, spring wheat at 73 per cent and oats at 70 per cent. However, due to rains and high humidity, some yet-to-be-harvested cereal crops showed low quality and sprouting.

The mustard harvest was 62 per cent complete, followed by canola at 42 per cent, soybeans at 23 per cent and flax at 18 per cent.

The most rain fell in the Rhein area east of Yorkton at 44 millimetres during the week. Meanwhile, Carnduff and Blaine Lake saw 20 mm and the Calder area received 18 mm.

Cropland topsoil moisture was at two per cent surplus, 59 per cent adequate, 32 per cent short and seven per cent very short. Hayland topsoil conditions were three per cent surplus, 51 per cent adequate, 29 per cent short and 17 per cent very short. Pasture topsoil conditions were two per cent surplus, 40 per cent adequate, 36 per cent short and 22 per cent very short.

As for pastures, one per cent were in excellent condition, 31 per cent in good condition, 39 per cent in fair condition, 20 per cent in poor condition and nine per cent in very poor condition.

Most of the crop damage reported was caused by wind and dry conditions. There were also some reports of low-lying areas being lost to water accumulation. Waterfowl damage was more present this week as geese, cranes and other waterfowl moved across the province.

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The Manitoba harvest advanced six points at 56 per cent completed. Some of the progress was due to the start of the soybean and silage corn harvests. Soybean combining operations began in the central and eastern regions with three per cent finished. Meanwhile, the central and Interlake regions began taking silage corn off the ground, completing 12 per cent of the province’s harvest.

The spring wheat was 93 per cent complete, followed by barley at 89 per cent and oats at 84 per cent. Canola was 45 per cent combined.

While some areas received less than one millimetre of precipitation, Ethelbert in the northwest region saw 109.1 mm, which triggered a local state of emergency due to overland flooding and washed-out roads. All regions saw at least 37 mm during the week. Despite the rainfall, soil conditions were dry to very dry in large parts of the Interlake as well as in localized areas in other regions. Wet conditions were present in areas of the province’s other regions.

Spring wheat yields averaged 60 bu./ac. with some fields reported at 70 bu./ac. Oats yielded 110 to 130 bu./ac. and barley was at 65 to 110 bu./ac. Most corn was in the R5 (dent) stage.

Canola yields ranged from 26 to 60 bu./ac. with an average of 45. Flax was in the brown capsule stage and sunflowers ranged from the R8 to R9 growth stages with most being desiccated.

Dry beans were in the R7 and R8 growth stages and harvest has started in the earliest-seeded fields. Most soybeans were also in the R7 and R8 stages with much of their harvest to be completed in two weeks.

Moist and warm conditions aided fall grazing and pasture growth, but the rainfall has caused challenges in harvesting native hay and greenfeed. Manure spreading has started on some fields.

Producers have started weaning and marketing their calves, while cattle on pasture were in good condition despite some fly pressure. Pastures were in excellent condition with some producers in the Interlake and southwest supplementing out on pasture. Winter feed supplies were mixed across Manitoba as some producers look for more while others are selling surplus amounts.

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Combining reached 29 per cent completion, the province’s weekly crop report said. The winter wheat and fall rye harvests were 99 per cent complete, while field peas were at 95 per cent. Barley and spring wheat were at 65 and 59 per cent, respectively, while oats were at 41 per cent. Canola was 10 per cent combined.

The most rainfall was recorded at Kane in the central region at 60.3 millimetres, with Dominion City in the east and Newdale in the southwest receiving 31.2 and 30.9 mm, respectively. Several areas across Manitoba received no rainfall.

Total precipitation accumulations this season were below 60 per cent compared to the 30-year average in the Interlake and parts of the Northwest and Eastern regions. Parts of the Southwest have accumulated higher than normal precipitation levels since May 1.

Spring wheat conditions ranged from 80 to 90 per cent good to excellent, while producing 50 to 60 bushels per acre. Winter wheat yields ranged from 50 to 80 bu./ac., while fall rye was at 60 to 110. Barley was at 60 to 70 bu./ac., while oats were at 100 to 150. Most corn was in the R5 (dent) stage of growth.

Canola yields were from 45 to 60 bu./ac. as swathing and desiccation were ongoing. Flax was in the brown capsule stage and most sunflowers have completed flowering. Avian Control, a bird repellent, received emergency registration in sunflowers to reduce damage by blackbirds. However, the treatment, which can be applied up to the day of harvest, can cause damage such as leaf discolouration.

Field pea yields ranged from 30 to 75 bu./ac., averaging approximately 60 bu./ac. Dry beans were in the R7 and R8 stages, while most soybeans were in the R5 and R6 stages.

Warm weather and improved moisture conditions in some areas allowed pastures to regrow, providing extra grazing days for livestock. Second cut harvest yields for beef producers were below-average and dairies were on their third cut, which were seeing higher yields than the second cut. Slough hay and straw yields appeared to be average. Silage corn harvest is set to begin in two weeks as most corn were in the dent stage.

Cattle on pasture were in good condition while producers monitor for foot rot, fly pressure and pneumonia. Water levels were mixed, causing some producers to move cattle or haul water. Winter feed supplies were also mixed with some producers sourcing additional feed and others with a surplus selling their own.

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