Canada's most important crop-producing areas - the Prairie provinces - have become hotter and drier over the last 120 years, University of Alberta research shows.
A review of various scientific literature looked at the effects of climate change on the cropland of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba from 1901 to 2021, showing a consistent trend of higher air temperatures in winter and spring, less snowfall and more disruptive weather, such as frequent and intense rainfalls.
The review is among the first to explore the impact of climate change on cropland specifically in the Prairie provinces, and may ultimately help farmers adapt to their local conditions, says Emmanuel Mapfumo, adjunct professor in the Faculty of Agricultural, Life & Environmental Sciences, who led the study, co-authored with U of A researchers David Chanasyk and Dick Puurveen.
