Features Agronomy Insect Pests
Dry Saskatchewan, wet Manitoba affecting Canadian canola

June 1, 2009

Very dry weather continues to dominate the weather across Saskatchewan’s canola fields. During the past 30 days, the drought-like conditions have actually worsened with some regions seeing less than 20 percent of normal precipitation during the month of May.

While the Canadian Press reports 80 to 90 percent of canola in Saskatchewan has been seeded, most of the seeds are simply laying in ground as fears build that they will not germinate. Compounding the drought issues are recent below normal temperatures, which have further prevented canola seeds from germinating. Unfortunately, cool, dry conditions look to continue over the next seven to 10 days, possibly forcing some producers to let their fields lie fallow this summer. This may have a significant effect on canola production as Canada acounts for nearly 20 percent of it worldwide.

Conversely, to the east in Manitoba, the province has been dealing with very wet conditions. A farmer in the southern portion of the province reports just 40 percent of his canola crop seeded. Typically, by the first week of June, nearly all of the canola in Canada is in the ground.

The longer seeding is delayed, the more susceptible it will be to diminished yields due to a late harvest. Therefore, Manitoba farmers are contemplating switching to flax, soybeans, oats, and/or barley. In the next seven days, more rain is possible in the province, but the heaviest precipitation may miss the major canola regions to the north.

Precipitation and temperature maps included.