From Alberta’s early emergence to Ontario’s rust warnings, here’s how the 2025 growing season is shaping up across the country.
While much of the country was glued to the playoff season or reeling from late spring storms (and wildfires in Manitoba), Canadian farmers have been racing the clock—and Mother Nature—to get the 2025 crop in the ground.
Alberta: Early Out of the Gates
If crop seeding were a sprint, Alberta would be winning.
Warm, dry conditions lit a fire under seeding efforts, pushing provincial completion to 47%, nearly double the five-year average. And crops aren’t just going in fast—they’re emerging ahead of schedule too. Over 10% of major crops have already broken the surface, with Central Alberta leading at 19%.
Moisture? It’s holding—for now. Surface and sub-surface soil conditions are hovering just below historical norms, but recent rains have helped. Tame hay and pasture growth are tracking well, especially in Central and North West regions, where over 70% of fields are rated good-to-excellent.
What’s emerging fastest:
- Spring wheat (South: 18%)
- Dry peas (Central: 34%)
- Barley, canola and lentils making steady gains
But don’t blink—hot weather, especially in the Peace region, is drying things up fast. Alberta growers know they’re ahead. The question is: can they stay there?
Saskatchewan: Full Throttle, But Thirsty
Saskatchewan farmers are seeding fast and praying for rain. The province is 49% seeded, well above the five- and ten-year averages, thanks to dry, workable soils and minimal precipitation.
Pulse crops are leading the charge: 78% of peas, 71% of lentils, and 65% of chickpeas are already in.
But what Saskatchewan has in seeding speed, it lacks in moisture. Topsoil moisture is short in 38% of cropland, and pasture conditions are increasingly stressed. Water shortages aren’t here yet, but one in three producers expects them within two months.
Emergence is starting. Sprayers are rolling. And while the crop is going in the ground fast, the province is bracing for the next big question: Will the skies deliver?
Manitoba: A Dusty Start
In Manitoba, 32% of crops are seeded, but the real story is what’s not falling from the sky.
Since May 1, most of agro-Manitoba has seen less than 20 mm of precipitation—well below the 30-year climate norm. Some areas, like Boissevain (12.5 mm), saw brief bursts. Others got nothing at all.
Growers are pushing ahead anyway, thanks to the dry soils allowing equipment to move freely. But if the weather doesn’t change soon, seeding momentum could give way to moisture stress.
Interactive soil maps show low soil moisture across much of the province. As the calendar creeps forward, Manitoba is walking a fine line between seeding progress and early drought conditions.
Ontario: Cold Soils and Complicated Choices
Ontario’s growers are navigating a different kind of drama: cool soils, pest pressure, and precision timing.
In cereals, sulphur deficiencies are showing up in winter wheat, while stripe rust and powdery mildew are creeping across fields in Perth and Grey counties. The advice? Time your fungicides carefully, split your passes if needed, and don’t ignore the flag leaf.
Canola is dealing with flea beetles, especially as early flowering kicks off in the south. Some farmers are planting early to dodge summer heat stress, but cooler weather this week could drive flea beetle feeding from leaves to stems—where the real damage happens.
Corn and soybeans are making steady progress, especially in lighter soils. In parts of southwestern Ontario, up to 90% of corn is already planted. But heavier soils in eastern and central regions are still just getting started. Weed control is another frontline battle. In soybeans, PowerCore Enlist volunteer corn is slipping through herbicide programs. The solution? Switch to clethodim, and don’t tank-mix it with dicamba or 2,4-D.
The Big Picture: Canada’s 2025 Crop Year Starts Strong—But Watch the Forecast
Across the Prairies, dry soils have been both a blessing and a warning. Seeding is ahead nearly everywhere—but soil moisture is trailing behind. In Ontario, it’s less about drought and more about disease, weed resistance, and careful timing.
Farmers are doing what they always do: managing uncertainty with precision, and betting on the next rain, the next warm day, the next window to spray or roll or seed. The 2025 crop is off to a fast start—but no one’s calling it a sure thing just yet.
