Weekly weather map as JPG

Prairie weather all starts with the sun

Weather takes energy, and the source of that is the star we all orbit around

The sun’s radiation comes to us in many forms, some of which are harmful to organic life while others are completely harmless or even essential, Daniel Bezte writes.

Dr. Yvonne Lawley of the University of Manitoba presents initial data in front of her newest line of plots evaluating the impact of tillage on soybeans.

To till or not to till? For soybeans that’s the question

The Westman Agricultural Diversification Organization is testing out planting dates and 
pre-seed tillage systems in its latest round of soybean experiments

Conventional wisdom says to break out the harrow before planting soybeans, the better to expose black earth and warm the soil, but new research is putting that assumption to the test. Dr. Yvonne Lawley of the Unive­rsity of Manitoba is measuring the effect of seeding date and different tillage systems on soybeans through several regions


The Mediterranean fruit fly damages 300 types of cultivated and wild fruits, vegetables and nuts worldwide.   Photo: USDA

Population control — just let the males take over

Unlike sterilized males, GM versions are good 
performers but run out of females

Scientists at the University of East Anglia and Oxitec Ltd. in the U.K. say they have a new way to control a damaging crop pest — release males genetically engineered to father only male offspring. The scientists conducted greenhouse research with the Mediterranean fruit fly, which damages 300 types of cultivated and wild fruits, vegetables

University of Manitoba food scientist Rick Holley was the principal investigator in a recently completed study on the effectiveness of low-dose electron-beam treatment to eliminating harmful bacteria in beef trim used to make ground beef. Holley also oversaw a panel of taste testers to see if the treatment changed the colour, aroma, texture, juiciness or flavour of the meat.  photo: lorraine stevenson

CCA hopeful resubmitted irradiation petition will succeed

The debate over whether to permit irradiation of beef products begins again

The waiting has begun all over again for the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) as it renews efforts to persuade Health Canada to approve irradiation for beef. The CCA submitted paperwork in early May asking the federal agency to restart the approval process for beef irradiation in Canada, repeating a similar request in a 1998 petition.


A new look at radiational cooling

If long-wave radiation can easily escape the area, we could see net cooling even if the sun is shining

I came across a weather article last week that was a purely academic discussion about radiational cooling. It was one of those articles that at first glance seemed to be purely a discussion for true weather geeks, meteorologists and university professors, with very little if anything to do with an everyday understanding of the weather,

New models predict drastically greener Arctic in coming decades

New research predicts that rising temperatures will lead to a massive “greening,” or increase in plant cover, in the Arctic. In a paper published on March 31 in Nature Climate Change, scientists reveal new models projecting that wooded areas in the Arctic could increase by as much as 50 per cent over the next few


U.S. upholds ethanol mandate

Reuters – The United States upheld its program to turn a large share of the corn crop into ethanol for motor fuel Nov. 16, saying it did not cause undue economic harm despite steep competition for depleted U.S. grain supplies after the worst drought in 50 years. In August, as the drought seared the Midwest,

Beef industry still seeking approval to irradiate ground beef

Canadian cattle producers sought Health Canada approval to irradiate 
ground beef more than 10 years ago. They are still waiting.

The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association once thought it would be just a matter of time before Canadian food companies would get the green light to start irradiating ground beef. That was a decade ago, when the CCA submitted a petition to Health Canada seeking regulatory approval for use of irradiation as another tool to reduce pathogens


Solar Dimming Can Trigger Freezing Winters

Acyclical drop in the sun s radiation can trigger unusually cold winters in parts of North America and Europe, scientists say, a finding that could improve long-range forecasts and help countries prepare for blizzards. Scientists have known for a long time that the sun has an 11-year cycle during which radiation measured by sunspots on

More Christmas Weather Ideas

CO-OPERATOR CONTRIBUTOR Last issue we began our look at what s available for the weather enthusiast on your Christmas list, and we started off by looking at several different weather instruments that are available for under $50. This week we ll continue our look, but will bump up our price range. Don t forget to