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Tag Archives soil moisture — page 3

(File photo)
Crops, Markets

U.S. grains: Wheat hits one-week low on Plains forecasts

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Chicago | Reuters — U.S. wheat futures fell nearly two per cent on Wednesday on forecasts for much-needed moisture in the southern Plains, analysts said. Corn and soybean futures also declined as traders adjusted positions ahead of key crop data due on Thursday from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Chicago Board of Trade March wheat […] Read more
Soil moisture (top five cm of soil) on Prairies for November 2016, measured as difference from average. (AAFC Drought Watch map)
Crops

Winter wonderland piles on saturated eastern Prairies

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CNS Canada — While a wave of snow slowly pummels parts of Saskatchewan and much of Manitoba, one soil moisture expert says water is still trickling through the soil into natural water channels. According to Trevor Hadwen, agroclimate specialist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Drought Watch program in Regina, this is a good thing, as […] Read more
Uneven corn emergence in eastern Ontario. (Photo by Gilles Quesnel)
Crops

Pearce: Eastern Ontario weather challenges corn, soybeans

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Times are tough for corn and soybean growers across parts of Ontario, with reports of wrapped leaves and low moisture levels. Hardest hit are the areas north of Toronto, through parts of Niagara and across eastern Ontario, where moisture levels in some locations are less than half of normal levels for May through to late […] Read more
(WeatherFarm.com/weather-maps)
Crops

Timing of rain ‘ideal’ for Prairie crops

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CNS Canada — Well timed weekend rains across Western Canada have benefited germinating canola crops and soil conditions — but some areas could use more moisture, one weather and crop specialist says. “In terms of the timing of the rains, they’ve been pretty well ideal,” said Bruce Burnett of G3 Canada. Showers over the week […] Read more
Canola at the cotyledon stage. (Photo courtesy Canola Council of Canada)
Crops

Canola to get early test as Prairies brace for frost

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CNS Canada — Overnight lows of -2 or -3 C are expected across much of Saskatchewan by Wednesday or Thursday, according to Environment Canada forecasts. The colder temperatures are expected to make their way into Manitoba by Friday. That could put some stress on canola plants that have already emerged, according to industry watchers. “As […] Read more
(Photo courtesy Canola Council of Canada)
Crops

Seeding canola into dry soils not out of question: CCC

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Seeding now rather than waiting for rain may be a viable option for Prairie canola growers looking out on dry fields without much chance of precipitation, the Canola Council of Canada suggests. Facing temperatures in the mid-30s C, and soil moisture down at about the one- to two-inch mark, a few Prairie growers on social […] Read more
Departure from average precipitation for the period from Nov. 1, 2015 to Feb. 15, 2016. (Map courtesy AAFC)
Crops

Drought watch kept on Alberta, early spring expected

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CNS Canada — Above-average temperatures and limited precipitation could mean parts of the Prairies will struggle with soil moisture heading into the spring, according to one specialist. “The soil moisture that we have in the ground right now is similar to what we went into the winter with,” said Trevor Hadwen, agroclimate specialist with Agriculture […] Read more
Crops, Markets

Sask. dryness could impact global canaryseed prices

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CNS Canada –– Dryness in Saskatchewan could support global canaryseed prices, as the province produces nearly all of Canada’s crop. Canada is the world’s largest producer and exporter of canaryseed worldwide, according to a federal government report. Kevin Hursh, executive director for the Canaryseed Development Commission of Saskatchewan, expects global canaryseed prices will eventually react […] Read more
(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)
Crops

Prairies’ forage a tale of mixed moisture levels

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CNS Canada — Forage crops in Saskatchewan and Alberta are badly in need of rain, while alfalfa is already being cut in Manitoba, a testament to the difference in moisture levels across Western Canada. The majority of the snow in Alberta was gone by the end of March, according to the chairwoman of the Alberta […] Read more
The rocket carrying the SMAP soil moisture observatory lifts off Jan. 31 at California’s Vandenberg AFB. (Bill Ingalls photo courtesy NASA)
Crops, Machinery

NASA launches satellite to map soil moisture

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Reuters — An unmanned Delta 2 rocket was launched Saturday to put a NASA satellite into orbit that is expected to improve drought monitoring and flooding forecasts. The 39-metre rocket, built and flown by United Launch Alliance, lifted off from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California at 6:22 a.m. PT, the U.S. National Aeronautics and […] Read more

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