This reporting period covers the harvest of winter wheat in July, followed by spring wheat in August. The sowing of winter wheat takes places in September and October. This monitoring period also covers the main growing periods of maize and soybean. According to agroclimatic indicators, Canada experienced  close-to-normal weather in this period. The overall conditions in this region were above average until the end of August. However, in the Saint Lawrence basin and Prairies, they dropped to below-average levels thereafter. Overall, crop conditions were favorable.

Compared with the 15-year average, the rainfall, temperature and radiation were  4%, 0.6°C, and 1% below the average respectively, which resulted in a slight decrease in potential biomass (BIOMSS, -1%). The rainfall profile indicates that the precipitation was significantly below average between mid-August and mid-September, and the temperature were above average between early July and early October. The drier conditions in mid-August and September were favorable for harvest. The NDVI profile map shows that the crop conditions were above average until the end of August but deteriorated to below average after August. The crop condition in the Northeast of British Columbia and North of Alberta (accounted for 23.3% of cropped land) was always above average during this monitoring period. In the other regions, crop conditions were below average after August, which may be caused by the shortage of rainfall in August. The national maximum VCI value was 0.96, while CALF was slightly above average (CALF, +1%). The overall conditions of the summer crops in Canada are assessed as favorable.

Regional analysis 

The Prairies (area identified as 53 in the crop condition clusters map) and Saint Lawrence basin (49) are the major agricultural regions in Canada.

The Prairies is the main food production area in Canada. In this reporting period, the rainfall (RAIN 223mm -11%) and temperature (TEMP, -0.8℃) were below average, while the radiation was slightly above average (RADPAR, +1%), leading to an average potential production (BIOMSS, 0%). The major crops in this region are winter wheat and spring wheat. According to the NDVI development graph and NDVI profile, crop conditions were above average before September, however deteriorated to below average after September. The negative departures may have been caused by a rainfall deficit. However, they did not affect wheat yields, because wheat had reached maturity by then. 

The condition in the Saint Lawrence basin was the same as the situation in the whole country, as rainfall (RAIN, -7%), temperature (TEMP, -0.3°C) and radiation (RADPAR, -2%) were below average. This had led to a slight decrease in potential biomass (BIOMSS, -1%). According to the NDVI development graph, crop conditions were above average before September and worsened to below-average subsequently. As in the Prairies, this was due to the shortage of rainfall. Crop conditions during the main growing season were favorable, as NDVI reached the 5 year maximum at its peak. 

Figure 3.12 Canada’s crop condition, July- Oct 2020

(a). Phenology of major crops

(b) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI  (c) Maximum VCI

(d) Spatial NDVI patterns compared to 5YA   (e) NDVI profiles

(f) Rainfall time series                                      (g) Temperature time series 

(h) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI (Canadian Prairies region (left) and Saint Lawrence basin region (right))

Table 3.15. Canada’s agroclimatic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's values and departure from 15YA, July- October 2020

Table 3.16. Canada agronomic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's values and departure, July- October 2020