Major Difference in Prairie Soil Moisture

May 21, 2021

Rain and snow now and in the coming days will no doubt help, but much of Western Canada remained well behind a year earlier in terms of soil moisture as of the end of April.

As can be seen by comparing the two maps below, the moisture situation was considerably different a year ago. That is particularly true in southwestern Manitoba, where soil moisture in 2020 was actually rated surplus in a couple of small pockets. In contrast, much of the same area is now considered short to very short on moisture

Meanwhile, the bulk of Prairie grain belt last year was reported to have adequate soil moisture, while many of those same areas today are considered ‘short.’

This year’s moisture problems have been compounded by a drier-biased spring that followed mostly dry fall weather and a winter that saw far below normal amounts of snow. The rain in the snow in the forecast now is expected to help improve conditions for early crop emergence and development but not significantly alter longer-term soil moisture conditions.

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Video: Dicamba Returns for Georgia Farmers: What the New EPA Ruling Means for Cotton Growers

After being unavailable in 2024 due to registration issues, dicamba products are returning for Georgia farmers this growing season — but under strict new conditions.

In this report from Tifton, Extension Weed Specialist Stanley Culpepper explains the updated EPA ruling, including new application limits, mandatory training requirements, and the need for a restricted use pesticide license. Among the key changes: a cap of two ½-pound applications per year and the required use of an approved volatility reduction agent with every application.

For Georgia cotton producers, the ruling is significant. According to Taylor Sills with the Georgia Cotton Commission, the vast majority of cotton planted in the state carries the dicamba-tolerant trait — meaning farmers had been paying for technology they couldn’t use.

While environmental groups have expressed concerns over spray drift, Georgia growers have reduced off-target pesticide movement by more than 91% over the past decade. Still, this two-year registration period will come with increased scrutiny, making stewardship and compliance more important than ever.