Canada Markets

At a time when the drought conditions of the Southern Plains have nearly disappeared as previously dry areas are deluged with excessive rainfall, the dry area on the Prairies continues to grow.

The attached chart shows the week-by-week growth in the short to very short topsoil moisture rating as reported by Saskatchewan Agriculture. The western side of the province remains the greatest concern, with the combined short to very short ratings shown for the Southwestern region, the West-Central region and the Northwestern region growing each week off the 2015 series of crop reports. The latest Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada maps shows much of this area of the province combined with eastern Alberta as having received less than 40% of average moisture in the April 1 through May 25 period. (See http://bit.ly/…)

As of the latest crop report, 52% of the Southwestern region, 60% of the Northwestern region and 62% of the West-Central region are short to very short moisture. While the dry trend was noticed early in the Southwestern region, ratings for both the West-Central and Northwest have quickly surged in recent weeks. Over the past four weeks, the short to very short rating has grown an average of 11.5% in the Southwest, 14.25% in the West-Central and 15% in the Northwest each week.

While Saskatchewan Agriculture reports that the crops are in generally good condition across the province, this comes as little relief to those waiting for rain in the western Prairies. In today's Ag Weather Forum Blog, DTN Senior Ag Meteorologist Doug Webster sees the current pattern showing signs of a shift in the next week or two, with a more favorable pattern as we enter June. National Weather Service maps show the potential for moisture over southern Saskatchewan and Alberta in the June 1 to 3 period.

DTN 360 Poll

The new DTN 360 poll looks at Statistics Canada's acreage estimates for 2015 suggesting that eastern Canada will plant more corn and less soybeans than in 2014, counter to the expected move to be made by U.S. farmers. What do you think is the primary driver of this decision? You can weigh in with your response on DTN's poll found on the lower right of your DTN Home Page.

Cliff Jamieson can be reached at cliff.jamieson@dtn.com

Follow Cliff Jamieson on Twitter @CliffJamieson

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