Silvopasture/intercropping of fruit trees with crops; alfalfa with hazelnut tree on display by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada at Ag in Motion 2025. Photo: Janelle Rudolph

Research studies fruit-forage intercropping

An Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada scientist shares the potential benefits of the practice found in trials conducted in Saskatchewan

Researchers are looking at Prairie farmers’ options for intercropping annual or perennial crops with shelterbelts composed of berry bushes and tree species such as seabuckthorn and buffalo berry, to boost biodiversity and returns.

Precipitation courtesy of La Niña is expected to help recharge Prairie soil moisture supplies.

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.


Leaving taller standing stubble in a field increases its aerodynamic roughness heading into later fall and winter.

Retain your rain

Farmers can get creative to manage water efficiency on Prairie fields

Growers often dismiss the unpredictability of precipitation as pure luck — but they can stack the odds in their favour with the right strategies. “There’s a lot of different dynamics going on with the water balance in the Prairies,” says Phillip Harder, research director and hydrologist at Croptimistic Technologies. In addition to summer rains during […] Read more



Photo: Zbynek Pospisil/iStock/Getty Images

Precipitation does little for Prairie drought relief

Most areas dryer than a year ago, drought monitor shows

While much of the Prairies received above-normal amounts of precipitation during the month of February, the additional moisture did little to alleviate dry conditions according to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s (AAFC) Canadian Drought Monitor (CDM).

A washout on Manitoba PR 346 south of Brandon in April 2017. (Manitoba Co-operator file photo by Alexis Stockford)

Manitoba to prepare for spring flooding

Some major waterways in agricultural Manitoba are expected to spill their banks this spring, according to the provincial infrastructure department’s first official flood outlook for the year. Assuming normal weather conditions for the season, southern Manitobans can expect levels on the Red River south of the floodway to peak near 2011 levels, the department said. […] Read more


The Red River in southern Winnipeg. (File photo by Dave Bedard)

U.S. agency sees high spring flood risk for Red River

As most of Western Canada continues to brace for frigid temperatures, some in southern Manitoba are already preparing for a messy spring. The U.S. National Weather Service on Thursday reported the Red River is in danger of significant flooding due to rapid snowmelt in March. Its report stated the risk for significant snowmelt flooding is […] Read more

Canadian drought conditions at March 31, 2018. (Drought Monitor map, Agr.gc.ca)

Prairie drought conditions improve

CNS Canada — While drought conditions in Western Canada have improved following late-season snowfall, it isn’t a completely rosy picture just yet. “We have seen significant departures from normal in terms of precipitation (on the Prairies over) a long period. The winter hasn’t been above average (for precipitation) so there hasn’t been a whole lot […] Read more


Southeastern Saskatchewan’s accumulated snowpack, as shown here east of Weyburn on March 9, i expected to lead to above-normal runoff in the area. (Leeann Minogue photo)

Runoff levels up in Saskatchewan’s forecast

Saskatchewan has raised its expectations for spring runoff across the board, now predicting “near normal” levels for much of the province and “above normal” to “well above normal” levels in its southeast. The province’s Water Security Agency on Thursday released a March spring runoff forecast pointing to two “areas of concern” — the province’s far […] Read more

(Manitoba Co-operator file photo)

Manitoba storm may cause more than travel delays

CNS Canada –– Road closures across most of western Manitoba due to a late-winter storm are likely only the start of the headaches to come, as flooding and/or late seeding may be a reality in many areas this spring. Meteorologist Drew Lerner of World Weather Inc. in Kansas City said he was optimistic on moisture […] Read more