Grainswest - Fall 2026

Wetandwild PRIOR TO 2026, MUCH OF ALBERTA CONTENDED WITH a years-long stretch of hot and dry growing conditions. Many farms squeaked by with the limited moisture they received and much of the credit went to savvy field practices and the excellent genetics of Canadian broadacre crop varieties. This crop year saw something of a return to normal precipitation. The glaring exception has been north-central Alberta, where the rain just would not stop. Eleven counties declared a state of agricultural disaster. In “Wet weather fallout” (pg. 30), we look at the effects of excess moisture in the region. This sort of weather whiplash is no longer the exception but the rule. The planet experienced its hottest August on record in 2026, while the northern hemisphere had its warmest summer from June 1 to Aug. 31. The World Meteorological Organization warned in August that the effects of El Niño will persist. “It is now firmly established and will intensify into a very strong event in the coming months, with big impacts on rainfall and temperature patterns well into 2027.” The degree of variability farmers have endured across the two most recent crop years makes the case for a strong crop variety EDITOR’S MESSAGE development system as well as effective and practical business risk management tools. As we discuss in “Science gets ahead of ugly weather” (pg. 26), it also makes better, earlier weather warnings increasingly valuable. Client/Project Code CCC-26-0007 Size (WxH) 7.25” x 4.875” Proof # FINAL WHENTHINGS ARE FEELING INESCAPABLE WE’REHEREFORYOU Years of hot, dry conditions ended in 2026, but renewed rainfall proved too much of a good thing in certain areas. On the Tomlinson farm in Thorhild County, two fields now feature newly constructed beaver dams, a testament of this year’s rainfall. Photo: Courtesy of Chelsea Tomlinson