April 10, 2023

Canadian farmland suffers from dry spell, global wheat supplies under threat

Canadian farmers are facing a challenging time as a severe drought grips the country's Prairies, just as they prepare to plant wheat and canola crops that are essential for feeding the world, Bloomberg reported.

David Streit, a senior meteorologist at Commodity 1eather Group, said some areas of the Canadian Prairies are experiencing the second-driest start to a year in 45 years.

Canada's Agriculture Ministry said swathes of vital spring wheat regions in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba have received less than 60% of average precipitation since September 1.

Bill Prybylski, a farmer and vice president at Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan, said that planting the seeds at the right depth into the soil requires seeding into moisture to facilitate germination. But with inadequate moisture, the tiny plants are vulnerable to adverse conditions.

Canada is the world's top canola grower and a major global exporter of wheat. The drought concerns in Canada coincide with growing uncertainty about wheat exports from the Black Sea region, while dry conditions in some parts of the US could lead to lower yields.

-      Bloomberg