Crop development has improved over the last few days as warmer temperatures flood the Prairies. The Canadian Wheat Board's Director of Weather and Market Analysis Bruce Burnett tells us conditions are particularly improving in the eastern Prairies where much of the crop was planted very late.

He reminds farmers disease concerns are still something they should keep an eye on, especially in light of the higher humidity values expected during this heat wave. Burnett says there's certainly the risk of fusarium headblight infection, especially with a lot of the crops in Manitoba and eastern Saskatchewan moving into a vulnerable stage.

Temperatures are even hotter in the U.S. corn belt with the high 90's to low 100's (mid to high 30's in Celsius) expected across many areas in the northern plains. Burnett says, similar to their Canadian cousins, there was a lot of crop planted late this year. He notes much of the corn crop is just entering the pollination stage which is the most vulnerable stage of the plant. Burnett says the market will be keeping an eye on how long this heat wave lasts. Hot temperatures during the corn pollination stage tends to lead to shorter cobs, and therefore a decrease in yield.

According to Burnett, U.S. wheat harvest is underway with it essentially wrapping up on the winter wheat side of things. Meanwhile, overseas the European crop has stabilized due to recent rains reducing the anxiety of what sort of wheat production will be coming from that part of the world.