Of all the buzzwords I have heard lately, one that sticks with me is: “the new normal.” What we’re experiencing today is a departure from the predictable patterns of the past. Instead, we adapt to a world where weather patterns are more erratic than ever.
It seems we’ve bid farewell to what we once considered a normal year. Late harvests have become routine, accompanied by the challenge of harvesting in wet conditions like rain or snow. Dry growing seasons have plagued us, further complicating matters. And this year, minimal rainfall across Alberta threatened to impact yields significantly. Some areas are fortunate to have received ample moisture, but many have not been so lucky.
But this so-called new normal is not a single phenomenon we can easily define. It’s a complex tapestry of challenges that demand adaptability. Mechanical damage, shrivelled seeds, immaturity, green seeds — these are the quality issues we anticipated this year. In areas where wetness has lingered, frost becomes a concern, as it affects germination potential and vigour over time.
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