Map: Time Growing Shorter for Meaningful Dryness Relief

Sep 21, 2023

Mostly dry weather may be allowing the Prairie harvest to progress ahead of the average pace in most cases, but time is also running out to get moisture into the ground ahead of winter freeze up.

As the map below shows, soil moisture is well below normal in large pockets of all three Prairie provinces, especially Alberta. With the next week or so expected to be mostly dry across Western Canada – except for parts of Manitoba and southeastern Saskatchewan – the window for meaningful relief closes just a little bit more before the ground freezes for winter, potentially sometime in November.

Depending on the winter season and the spring thaw, many farmers could again be facing a lack of soil moisture for spring planting. - a problem that now goes back years in some locations.

The outlook for fall precipitation, however, is uncertain.

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Video: Dr. Emerson Nafziger: Nitrogen Fertilizer Rates for Corn

The Crop Science Podcast Show, Dr. Emerson Nafziger from the University of Illinois breaks down decades of nitrogen research. From the evolution of N rate guidelines to how soil health and hybrid genetics influence nitrogen use efficiency, this conversation unpacks the science behind smarter fertilization. Improving how we set nitrogen fertilizer rates for rainfed corn is a key focus. Discover why the MRTN model matters more than ever, and how shifting mindsets and better data can boost yields and environmental outcomes. Tune in now on all major platforms!

"The nitrogen that comes from soil mineralization is the first nitrogen the plant sees, and its role is underestimated."

Meet the guest:

Dr. Emerson Nafziger is Professor Emeritus of Crop Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, with degrees in agronomy from Ohio State, Purdue, and Illinois. His research has focused on nitrogen rate strategies and crop productivity. He co-developed the Maximum Return to Nitrogen (MRTN) model, which is widely used across the Midwest. His research spans N response trials, hybrid interactions, crop rotation effects, and yield stability.