Prairie crops in trouble

Jul 19, 2023

Crops are not faring well in Alberta and Saskatchewan.

“Conditions are deteriorating in both provinces,” said MarketsFarm analyst Bruce Burnett.

Crops in southern and central Alberta and western Saskatchewan are in particularly rough shape because of drought.

Burnett is especially concerned about Canada’s durum and lentil crops, which are primarily grown in those areas.

There are good crops in eastern Saskatchewan and Manitoba, but even in those regions yields will be down from last year and closer to the long-term average.

“We are looking at a below-average crop,” he said.

Derek Squair, president of Exceed Grain Marketing, agreed with that assessment.

In Alberta, anything north of Red Deer is generally doing well and everything south is mostly in bad shape.

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Video: Midwest Weather Shock: Flash Drought Turns Into Heavy Rain Threat This Week (2026 Forecast)

A rapidly changing Midwest weather pattern is unfolding in 2026 as areas that recently slipped into abnormal dryness and flash drought conditions are now facing the threat of heavy rain and repeated storm systems.

After a wet spring erased early drought conditions, regions across Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and northern Missouri have quickly dried out again since mid-to-late May. Soil moisture is dropping fast, and crops like corn and soybeans are beginning to feel the stress of rising temperatures and lack of consistent rainfall. Now, weather models show a major shift.

A developing system moving in from the Northern Plains is expected to bring multiple rounds of showers and thunderstorms, with the potential for locally heavy rainfall across the Midwest. While some areas may miss out, others could finally see much-needed relief from the growing dryness. In this video, we break down:

Current drought conditions across the Midwest

Why a flash drought is developing quickly

Timing and path of incoming storm systems

Which states are most likely to see heavy rain

How long this wet pattern could last

Will this rain end the drought or create new flooding risks? Watch the full forecast to find out.