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: Residue Management

Residue Management conservation practice manages the amount, orientation, and distribution of crop and other plant residue on the soil surface year-round while limiting soil-disturbing activities used to grow and harvest crops in systems where the field surface is tilled prior to planting. This video explores how Ryan McKenzie implemented this conservation practice on his farm in Samson, Alabama.

Practice benefits:

• Increases organic matter

• Improves air quality

• Decreases energy costs

• Reduces erosion

• Improves soil health

The Conservation at Work video series was created to increase producer awareness of common conservation practices and was filmed at various locations throughout the country. Because conservation plans are specific to the unique resource needs on each farm and also soil type, weather conditions, etc., these videos were designed to serve as a general guide to the benefits of soil and water conservation and landowners should contact their local USDA office for individual consultation.