Canadian Drought 'Worst In 50 Years'
The worst drought in years has already caused nine counties in Alberta to to declare agricultural states of emergency, with farmers calling in the loss adjusters to claim on their crop insurance.
The last big drought to hit the Canadian wheat belt was in 2002 when production was slashed to 14.6 MMT, and Environment Canada are calling this one the worst drought in 50 years.
The most recent report available from the Canadian Wheat Board is dated June 11th, in which they cut their estimates of wheat, durum and barley production to 29.7 million tonnes in the 2009 crop year, down almost 20 per cent on last year.
"Production estimates have dropped significantly in the past two weeks from what had been average yield expectations," they warned.
And in many of the worst affected areas it hasn't rained since.
Links:
Crop outlook bleak as drought ravages Prairies
Farmers start to write off year as drought parches Prairie land
The last big drought to hit the Canadian wheat belt was in 2002 when production was slashed to 14.6 MMT, and Environment Canada are calling this one the worst drought in 50 years.
The most recent report available from the Canadian Wheat Board is dated June 11th, in which they cut their estimates of wheat, durum and barley production to 29.7 million tonnes in the 2009 crop year, down almost 20 per cent on last year.
"Production estimates have dropped significantly in the past two weeks from what had been average yield expectations," they warned.
And in many of the worst affected areas it hasn't rained since.
Links:
Crop outlook bleak as drought ravages Prairies
Farmers start to write off year as drought parches Prairie land
