“Artificial intelligence supports earlier detection of weather-related events, as well as enhance the reliability and accuracy of forecasts,” said Julie Dabrusin, minister of environment, climate change and nature, in a news release.

ECCC will create a new hybrid weather forecasting model, combining the predictive abilities of AI and traditional physics-based meteorology and the department’s knowledge of local factors for wind, temperature and precipitation.

• More weather coverage: El Niño risk building, U.S. forecaster says

The new forecasting model would enhance public safety, improve emergency readiness and give more Canadians time to act when severe weather is expected, the department said.

The hybrid model is also expected to improve the accuracy of short and long-term forecasts. It claims the six-day forecast would be as accurate as the traditional model’s current five-day forecast and would predict major weather systems from eight to 24 hours earlier.

ECCC said it has tested the hybrid model over the past year to compare its performance with the traditional models. They found that the hybrid model predicted extreme weather more effectively, while the traditional model was better at small-scale details.

The post Federal forecasters to add AI to improve weather predictions: ECCC appeared first on Farmtario.

Some plants do this by putting a pause on productivity until the weather improves. In our recently published research, we discovered which genes control the “pause-and-play” mechanism of plant growth and are key for the survival of Canada’s crops.

Our goal is to understand the genetic factors that control growth so they can eventually be used to improve the ability of Canadian and global crops to handle weather stresses like drought, heat and cold temperatures.

A changing climate means extreme weather events are becoming more frequent. These findings could help create climate-resilient, genetically engineered crops that can recover faster and more efficiently after climate shocks.

These plants might be more likely to complete their life cycle and produce food during the harvest season, even after experiencing snowstorms, heat waves or flooding.

How plants handle weather stress

To get an idea of how plants tolerate stress, we measured root growth under a series of environmental stresses that Canadian and globally relevant crops commonly face throughout their life cycles. These included cold temperatures, salt stress and drought-like conditions. For our first experiments, we used thale cress (Arabidopsis thaliana).

Roots are particularly useful for this type of research because they grow continuously and respond quickly to environmental change.

By measuring root length over time, we could see when growth slowed down and when it resumed. We tested the root length in model organism.

We found that tested plants paused their root growth when exposed to cold or salt stress. When the stress was removed and the plants returned to normal growing conditions, root growth resumed as normal within about 24 hours.

However, plants did not respond the same way to every type of stress. We found that plants can recover from osmotic or drought stress, but it takes a little longer for them to do so. We referred to that dynamic as “pause and push” because plants need time to push through and recover.

To test whether the same stress response occurs in other plant species, we partnered with researchers from the United States Department of Agriculture. Together, we repeated the experiments using two wild grasses that are closely related to major cereal crops: brachypodium (Brachypodium distachyon) and annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum).

The grasses showed similar patterns of stress response and recovery. That suggests the mechanism that pauses and restarts growth may be shared across many plant species.

Pinpointing stress-recovery genes

Observing these dynamics is one thing, but how can scientists figure out what’s going on at the genetic and molecular level?

One common approach is to attach a fluorescent marker to genes of interest. Scientists often use a green fluorescent protein, originally discovered in jellyfish, that glows under specific light.

When this protein is inserted into a plant genome, researchers can fuse it to a gene of interest to see when and where that gene becomes active as it lights up inside cells.

We knew that the lack of growth during stress was due to a decrease in cell division, so we targeted genes related to cell division. Using fluorescent markers, we observed how the plant cells lit up differently in response to stress and stress recovery.

After counting thousands of cells for months, we could see certain genes were present in fewer cells when plants were under cold, drought and salt stress. However, within about 24 hours of being put back into optimal growth conditions, their numbers returned to normal.

One gene stood out in particular: Cyclin-dependent Kinase A;1 (CDKA;1). This gene helps regulate the cell cycle, the process that controls when cells divide and grow. A related gene named CDK1 exists in animals and humans, where it performs similar functions.

After performing more experiments targeting CDKA;1 in plants, we found that inhibiting the gene prevented plants from recovering from cold and salt stress. This suggests CDKA;1 plays a vital role in helping plants resume growth once environmental conditions stabilize.

Supporting food security

Our focus is on helping crops recover faster. We can’t stop heat waves or snowstorms. Pinpointing genes, however, can help plants recover from these events and still produce in time for harvest.

Understanding these genes opens the door to new approaches in crop breeding. Researchers could look for natural variants of these genes that already exist in crop populations. Traditional breeding programs could then select for varieties that recover faster after stress.

Another option is modern gene-editing tools such as CRISPR. This tool allows scientists to make precise changes to a plant’s DNA, including strengthening or adjusting genes involved in stress recovery.

As our research progresses, we hope to adjust the genetics of these Canadian crop varieties and create our own CRISPR-edited lines that are better able to cope with a changing climate.

Improving stress recovery could also expand where crops can be grown. Regions that currently experience unpredictable weather or short growing seasons may become more suitable for agriculture if crops can recover quickly after stress.

For Canada, this could help stabilize production in areas where climate variability is increasing. For the global food system, it could make crops better equipped to handle the environmental uncertainty expected in the coming decades.

By identifying the genes that allow plants to pause growth during stress and restart, we’re beginning to understand a critical survival strategy in plants. This knowledge can eventually help ensure crops continue to produce reliable harvests in a changing climate.

—Arif Ashraf is an assistant professor in the University of British Columbia’s department of botany. Olivia Hazelwood is a PhD student in the department of botany.

The post OPINION: Understanding how plants pause and restart growth can help develop climate-resilient crops appeared first on Farmtario.

Highlights

• A strong Alberta clipper is forecasted to track across the southern Prairies, but the strength and track of the system remains to be seen.
• Alberta can widespread snow to southern and central regions on Wednesday and into Wednesday night. Friday could bring another quick shot of snow.
• Saskatchewan looks set for blizzard conditions later on Wednesday.
• Manitoba can expect blizzard conditions to set in late Wednesday and into Thursday morning.
• Cold temperatures are expected to build in behind the lows in time for the weekend.

Overview

Well, so much for a quieter pattern. While we did see a short window of quieter weather last weekend, the parade of storm systems coming in off the Pacific continued. This was thanks in part to an upper atmospheric river, which brought copious moisture to the Pacific coast.

Looking back, the weather models were not that far off, but when we are talking about weather, a couple hundred kilometers can make a big difference.

Up until the weekend things went pretty well. Cold Arctic air settled in. This brought the coldest air of the season to parts of Saskatchewan and Manitoba. After that it started to fall apart a bit.

The area of low pressure, which was forecasted to move in off the Pacific and then track across the northern Prairies, developed as forecasted. However, it was a a bit stronger than expected and it also tracked further south. This brough snow and freezing rain to the central Prairies early this week along with the forecasted mild temperatures.

In fact, the temperatures ended up being significantly warmer than expected with daytime highs pushing +5 C. However, most regions saw less than 12 hours of above freezing temperatures.

More weather coverage: Predicting Manitoba winter snowfall

Now we come to the current situation across the Prairies. This looks to be a potentially difficult forecast period.

Currently a strong Alberta Clipper has developed and is forecasted to track across the southern Prairies. The weather models are still bouncing back and forth on both the strength of the system and its exact track. Latest model runs have the low tracking from around Calgary on Wednesday morning and then into northeastern North Dakota by early Thursday morning.

Most of the precipitation will fall in a narrow band just to the north of the low track, so the exact track of the low is important. The strength of the low is also important as to how windy it will be and how weather systems will behave after the low passes by. Strong areas of low pressure can alter the overall weather pattern, which makes it difficult to accurately forecast what will happen once they pass by.

With that said, the weather models are showing a second, but weaker, area of low-pressure tacking across the southern and central Prairies on Friday. This should bring another quick round of snow.

Over the weekend, Arctic high pressure will build in. This will bring a return to below average temperatures, especially over the central and eastern Prairies.

In the days leading up to Christmas, the weather models are showing a couple of weak areas of low pressure tracking across the south-central Prairies. These may bring more clouds than sun, seasonable temperatures, along with the chance of flurries or light snow.

Alberta

This forecast period will start with a strong area of low pressure moving in from southern B.C. This low looks to bring widespread snow to southern and central regions on Wednesday and into Wednesday night. Currently it looks like southern regions could see up to 5 cm with amounts further north possibly pushing 20 cm before the system moves out.

A second area of low pressure is forecasted to push in from the west on Friday. This low looks to take a more northerly route, which will result in central and northern regions seeing a quick 5 cm of snow as it zips though.

Behind this low, cool Arctic air will push southwards bringing a return to slightly below average temperatures.

Early next week the weather models are showing a couple of weak areas of low pressure pushing in from the Pacific over central regions.

Confidence in these systems is low. Should they materialize, expect partly to mostly-cloudy skies in the days leading up to Christmas with occasional flurries or periods of light snow with seasonable temperatures.

Saskatchewan and Manitoba

Just like Alberta, these regions are starting this forecast period off with a strong area of low pressure moving in from southern Alberta. Snow is forecasted to develop in a narrow band along a warm front, which is stretching eastwards from the low.

Across Saskatchewan, expect snow to develop around noon over central regions while southern regions may be warm enough for either wet snow or rain.

The precipitation will transition to all snow later in the day as the main area of low pressure moves through. Latest model indications are for central regions to see upwards of 20 to 25 centimeters of snow with southern regions seeing 5 to 15 cm. Winds look to be strong with blizzard conditions very likely.

Conditions look to improve overnight Wednesday with sunny skies moving on Thursday as arctic high pressure briefly builds in.

Across Manitoba, the snow looks to move in by late in the afternoon on Wednesday. Where the heaviest snow will set up is still up in the air. Currently indications are it will be slightly north of the Trans-Canada highway but any small nudge to the storms track will change that.

More weather coverage: Prairie winter snowfall forecast 2025-2026

Snow looks to continue overnight Wednesday and into Thursday morning. This is expected to bring around 5 cm of snow near the border, increasing to 20+ cm under the main storm track. As with Saskatchewan, winds look to become very strong with blizzard conditions developing during the evening and lasting possibly into Thursday morning.

A second weaker area of low pressure is forecasted to track across the central Prairies on Saturday. Most of the snow from this system will be over central regions of both Saskatchewan and Manitoba but southern regions will likely see another couple of centimeters. Cold Arctic high pressure will then build in behind this low bring below average temperatures and clearing skies over the weekend.

For the first half of next week, the weather models are showing two weak areas of low-pressure tracking across the central Prairies. Confidence in this part of the forecast is low, but should it materialize, these regions can expect partly to mostly cloudy skies, near average temperatures, and a chance of some flurries or occasional periods of light snow.

The post Prairie forecast: First blizzard of the year, then quiet? appeared first on Farmtario.

The losses to crops such as cotton and soybean are expected to slow agricultural growth, boost farmers’ debt and cap rural consumption, which had been set to rise after New Delhi slashed taxes on hundreds of consumer items.

“We had hoped to harvest 10 to 12 quintals of soybean per acre, but now we’ll be lucky to get 2 to 3 quintals — and even that will require significant additional expenses,” said farmer Kishore Hangargekar. A quintal is a unit equivalent to 100 kg (220 lb).

He was speaking after two days of unrelenting rain flooded his fields and submerged his crops in the district of Dharashiv in the western state of Maharashtra.

Related: India and Canada agree on new roadmap for relations.

Until then, the soybean crop had been thriving, and farmers were readying for harvest.

The reduction in yields from excessive rainfall is likely to halve agricultural growth to three per cent to 3.5 per cent in the December quarter, down from 6.6 per cent a year earlier, said Garima Kapoor, economist at Mumbai-based Elara Securities.

Summer-sown crops such as soybean, cotton, rice, pulses and vegetables mature from September, a month that saw rains of 15 per cent above average this year, with some regions getting as much as 115 per cent more than normal.

While agriculture contributes just 18 per cent to India’s economy of nearly US$4 trillion, almost half its population of 1.4 billion relies on farming to earn a living.

No respite from rain

Now farmers are scrambling to harvest summer crops ahead of winter sowing set to begin next month, but more untimely rain forecast this week could delay planting and damage late-maturing summer crops.

The rain-damaged crops are earning prices well below the government’s minimum support price, as quality has deteriorated.

“Traders are buying the damaged crops for throwaway prices, and we have no choice but to sell,” said farmer Sachin Nanaware, who sold his soybean at a rate of 3,200 rupees ($50.62) for 100 kg, below the government-fixed rate of 5,328 rupees.

Nanaware said he had hoped to buy a motorcycle and a television, but is now worried about repaying his bank loan.

The excessive rain has boosted soil moisture for winter-sown crops such as wheat, rapeseed and chickpea, but many farmers say they lack funds for seeds and fertilisers.

“We need money to buy seeds and fertilisers and to prepare the land,” said farmer Chaya Jawale as she collected cotton bolls brought down from plants prematurely by the rain.

“So, we have no choice but to mortgage our gold jewellery.”

Damage to soybean and cotton crops is expected to boost India’s vegetable oil imports in the marketing year from November by 1.5 million tons to a record 18 million, says industry analyst Thomas Mielke of Oil World.

— Additional reporting by Ira Dugal

The post Monsoon promise turns sour for India’s crops ruined by late downpours appeared first on Farmtario.

The losses to crops such as cotton and soybean are expected to slow agricultural growth, boost farmers’ debt and cap rural consumption, which had been set to rise after New Delhi slashed taxes on hundreds of consumer items.

“We had hoped to harvest 10 to 12 quintals of soybean per acre, but now we’ll be lucky to get 2 to 3 quintals — and even that will require significant additional expenses,” said farmer Kishore Hangargekar. A quintal is a unit equivalent to 100 kg (220 lb).

He was speaking after two days of unrelenting rain flooded his fields and submerged his crops in the district of Dharashiv in the western state of Maharashtra.

Related: India and Canada agree on new roadmap for relations.

Until then, the soybean crop had been thriving, and farmers were readying for harvest.

The reduction in yields from excessive rainfall is likely to halve agricultural growth to three per cent to 3.5 per cent in the December quarter, down from 6.6 per cent a year earlier, said Garima Kapoor, economist at Mumbai-based Elara Securities.

Summer-sown crops such as soybean, cotton, rice, pulses and vegetables mature from September, a month that saw rains of 15 per cent above average this year, with some regions getting as much as 115 per cent more than normal.

While agriculture contributes just 18 per cent to India’s economy of nearly US$4 trillion, almost half its population of 1.4 billion relies on farming to earn a living.

No respite from rain

Now farmers are scrambling to harvest summer crops ahead of winter sowing set to begin next month, but more untimely rain forecast this week could delay planting and damage late-maturing summer crops.

The rain-damaged crops are earning prices well below the government’s minimum support price, as quality has deteriorated.

“Traders are buying the damaged crops for throwaway prices, and we have no choice but to sell,” said farmer Sachin Nanaware, who sold his soybean at a rate of 3,200 rupees ($50.62) for 100 kg, below the government-fixed rate of 5,328 rupees.

Nanaware said he had hoped to buy a motorcycle and a television, but is now worried about repaying his bank loan.

The excessive rain has boosted soil moisture for winter-sown crops such as wheat, rapeseed and chickpea, but many farmers say they lack funds for seeds and fertilisers.

“We need money to buy seeds and fertilisers and to prepare the land,” said farmer Chaya Jawale as she collected cotton bolls brought down from plants prematurely by the rain.

“So, we have no choice but to mortgage our gold jewellery.”

Damage to soybean and cotton crops is expected to boost India’s vegetable oil imports in the marketing year from November by 1.5 million tons to a record 18 million, says industry analyst Thomas Mielke of Oil World.

— Additional reporting by Ira Dugal

The post Monsoon promise turns sour for India’s crops ruined by late downpours appeared first on Farmtario.

Why it matters: Harvesting potatoes with a tuber pulp temperature above 18 °C increases the risk of soft rot and pythium leak diseases during storage.

Kevin Brubacher, Ontario Potato Board general manager, said many growers were starting to harvest between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. and were off the fields by 10 a.m. before the heat ramped up.

“We’re definitely watching the heat. You don’t want to go too far into the day when it was hot there,” agreed Quinton Woods, Gwillimdale Farm’s sales and plant operations manager. “But you’re able to get the acres that you need to get through in a day anyway.”

He said Gwillimdale has harvested approximately 70 per cent of the crop at their Bradford and New Liskeard locations.

“Quality is good, yield is average, but I know that’s not indicative of everybody in the province,” said Woods.

Brubacher estimated yields are down 15 per cent, in part due to potato size, but “on the flip side of a dry year, quality is usually very good.”

A little over half of Ontario’s 38,000 to 40,000 potato acres are chipping varieties, which require a tuber pulp temperature below 18 °C before going into storage to limit disease or degradation of the crop.

Brubacher suggested that growers of earlier varieties may have encountered increased costs in cooling the crop for storage.

“A lot of the harvesting for the storage crop is happening now, and will be happening for the next few weeks,” Brubacher explained. “For the bulk of it, we’ve missed the extreme heat in the fall.”

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