<P> Further north, the area becomes too cold for most agriculture besides wild rice operations and sheep raising, and it is dominated by boreal forest . The Peace Region in northwestern Alberta is an exception, however . It lies north of the 55th Parallel and is warm and dry enough to support extensive farming . Aspen parkland covers the area; The long daylight hours in this region during the summer are an asset despite having an even shorter growing season than central Alberta . In fact, agriculture plays a major economic role in the Peace Region . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Th_colspan="6"> Census metropolitan areas in the Canadian Prairies </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Rank </Th> <Th> Census metropolitan area </Th> <Th> Population (2011) </Th> <Th> Population (2006) </Th> <Th> Province </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> Calgary </Td> <Td> 1,214,839 </Td> <Td> 1,079,310 </Td> <Td> Alberta </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> Edmonton </Td> <Td> 1,159,869 </Td> <Td> 1,034,945 </Td> <Td> Alberta </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> Winnipeg </Td> <Td> 730,018 </Td> <Td> 694,668 </Td> <Td> Manitoba </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> Saskatoon </Td> <Td> 260,600 </Td> <Td> 233,923 </Td> <Td> Saskatchewan </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 5 </Td> <Td> Regina </Td> <Td> 210,556 </Td> <Td> 194,971 </Td> <Td> Saskatchewan </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Th_colspan="6"> Census metropolitan areas in the Canadian Prairies </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Rank </Th> <Th> Census metropolitan area </Th> <Th> Population (2011) </Th> <Th> Population (2006) </Th> <Th> Province </Th> </Tr>

Describe the climate effects in the prairie provinces