Smoky haze from Saskatchewan good news for Manitoba crops

That golden haze in Manitoba skies over the past few weeks is helping to produce a bumper crop of golden canola.

Smoke from fires in Saskatchewan have been blanketing skies in Manitoba for weeks.

Doug Chorney, past president of Keystone Agricultural Producers, said in the south east an early planting season and good moisture meant a good start to the crop year, but the hazy skies are helping move crops along.

"Almost like a greenhouse effect, this warm evening and warm day type weather that really promotes plant growth and development and we've seen that really come to fruition in many of our crops, especially canola," Chorney said.

Crops in south western Manitoba are slightly behind the south east because of frost in the spring, but Chorney said they're still looking at the best crop since 2011.

Canola prices are also on the rise, in part because of drought in Saskatchewan and Alberta.

"Certainly has been a dry period for them since the beginning of spring, drought impacts are now irreversible and we're not likely to see a recovery in many prime growing areas," Chorney said.

In Manitoba, Chorney said, there have been isolated problems with hail damage, but so far it's shaping up to be a banner year for most crops.