In this issue (click the bookmark
links below to move to specific sections of this
report):
Crop development |
Hail | Premature
bolting | Nitrogen
and/or sulphur deficiences | Grasshoppers
| Bertha armyworm
| Sclerotinia
| Frequent field scouting
The Alberta Canola Producers Commission (ACPC) has developed an Alberta focused version of this report. Visit the ACPC website at: http://www.canola.ab.ca
Crop
development continues to be delayed by up
to one to two weeks compared to normal across
most of the Prairies with the exception of southern
Alberta and the Peace region. However, a return
to temperatures closer to seasonal averages this
past week helped to advance the crop and narrow
the developmental gap. Crop development ranges
from the late rosette-early bolting stage for
late seeded fields in Manitoba and southern Saskatchewan
up to late flower-early podding stage for early
seeded fields in southern Alberta and western
Saskatchewan. Soil moisture conditions continued
to improve across most of western Canada compared
to last week with both general regional rains
as well as localized thundershowers. However,
areas of Alberta in the north Peace between Manning
and Fort Vermilion remain dry.
For current maps of moisture conditions across
western Canada, check the following PFRA link:
http://www.agr.gc.ca/pfra/drought/drprec7_e.htm
The latest crop report from Manitoba Agriculture,
Food & Rural Initiatives is available at:
http://web2.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/mwcr/index.php
The latest crop report from Saskatchewan Agriculture,
Food & Rural Revitalization is available at:
http://www.agr.gov.sk.ca/docs/reports/crop_report/crprpt040712.asp
Additional moisture information for Alberta is
available from Alberta Environment at:
http://www3.gov.ab.ca/env/water/WS/data/precipmaps/weekly.pdf
Hail damage was reported in many areas of western Canada. Severe hail and small tornados were reported in northcentral Alberta near Morinville and Andrew, and west Edmonton was hit with a severe hailstorm. Spotty hail was reported in many areas of Saskatchewan. Potential yields losses will depend on stage of crop and the severity of the damage. Hail damage allows a point of entry for diseases such as sclerotinia stem rot, alternaria black spot and blackleg to infect canola plants. Further information is available in the Canola Growers Manual (2003 edition) in Chapter 5, pages 511 and 512.
Previous reports of premature bolting (small and spindly plants that are starting to bolt) have many of these fields recovering somewhat over the past week with a return to more seasonable weather. Flowering and some secondary branching is helping to fill in the crop canopy, and many of these fields are looking better than a week ago. Although yields from these fields may be reduced from normal levels, do not abandon field scouting for insects and diseases. A crop with a 20 bu/ac yield potential that suffers a yield loss of 20% from insects or disease, means that 4 bu/ac would be lost. At a price of $8/bu, that’s a crop loss of $32/ac!
As well,
many of the fields that were showing nitrogen
and/or sulphur deficiency symptoms now report
the reduction or disappearance of symptoms. The
most probable explanation in the majority of cases
is that plant root development has progressed
enough to allow the plants to extract these nutrients
from lower in the soil profile. However, if the
crop is at the rosette stage or beginning to bolt,
and still shows deficiency symptoms, consider
a post emergent broadcast nitrogen and/or sulphur
application. For further information on in-season
broadcast fertilizer application, refer to the
following paper from PPI-PPIC:
http://www.ppi-ppic.org/ppiweb%5Cpcanadaw.nsf/$webindex/article=
FD7A83C706256DFD007F756F53EC3DEF?opendocument
Grasshopper
spraying was reported in areas of the BC Peace,
especially in cereals and grass seed. Recent rainfall
has slowed the hatch and the growth of the grasshoppers.
Based on recent surveys, Dan Johnson from the
University of Lethbridge states that the grasshopper
risk is greatly reduced in many areas from earlier
forecasts and that only isolated areas remain
at high risk. Refer to Dan Johnson’s website
for further information:
http://people.uleth.ca/~dan.johnson/htm/update04.htm
Bertha
armyworm moths were reported in traps in many
areas of Manitoba and Saskatchewan, but numbers
are not considered to be a problem yet. However,
the cooler than normal weather in many areas this
year has delayed heat unit accumulation required
for moth emergence. Watch for updated moth counts
in subsequent reports. For more background information
on bertha armyworm moth monitoring, refer to the
following AAFRD link for a sample map and discussion
of how to interpret the moth counts:
http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/prm2526?opendocument
With
the continued precipitation across most of the
west, and many reports of apothecia throughout
Manitoba and northcentral Alberta, the crop in
many of these areas remains at risk from sclerotinia
infection. Sclerotinia in early seeded canola
continues to be reported near Lethbridge, AB.
Many areas of Alberta and Saskatchewan have the
best moisture conditions in several years for
this part of the growing season. In areas of the
prairies that have good to excessive soil moisture
conditions and good crop growth, assess crops
for potential sclerotinia infection and possible
fungicide application. Refer to the sclerotinia
checklist Word document from the new Canola
Growers Manual.
If the risk of sclerotinia infection remains questionable
after going through the checklist, consider splitting
the fungicide applications to reduce the associated
cost risk.
For the current list of recommended fungicides
for sclerotinia control, refer to the 2006 Crop
Protection Guide:
http://www.agr.gov.sk.ca/docs/crops/CropProtGuideAddendum2006.pdf
Continue
to be vigilant in the frequency and intensity
of field scouting. Seed, fertilizer, and
weed control costs have already been incurred.
Do not forsake the yield potential of the crop
to mid and late season insects and diseases. Ensure
that the application of crop protection products
is at the earlier rather than later threshold
stages of the crop. This helps to enhance product
activity in most cases, reduce the stress on the
crop from the pest, and maximize yield potential.
Any questions regarding this overall report should
be directed to John Mayko, Agronomic Research
& Extension Manager with the Canola Council
of Canada at maykoj@canola-council.org
ph/fax: 780-764-2593.
For specific questions regarding regional issues associated with this report, please consult one of the following Canola Council of Canada regional agronomists or provincial oilseed specialists;
Derwyn Hammond, Agronomist,
Manitoba,
hammondd@canola-council.org,
204-729-9011
Rob Park, Manitoba Agriculture
& Food,
rpark@gov.mb.ca,
204-745-5665
David Vanthuyne, Agronomist,
Eastern Saskatchewan,
vanthuyd@canola-council.org,
306-782-7799
David Blais, Agronomist, Western
Saskatchewan,
blaisd@canola-council.org,
306-895-2122
Jim Bessel, Senior Agronomist,
Northeastern Saskatchewan,
besselj@canola-council.org,
306-373-6771
Bill Greuel, Saskatchewan Agriculture,
Food & Rural Revitalization,
wgreuel@agr.gov.sk.ca,
306-787-2756
Doug Moisey, Agronomist, Central
Alberta,
moiseyd@canola-council.org,
780-645-3624
Christine Mardell, Agronomist,
Peace River Region,
mardellc@canola-council.org,
780-518-1513
Nancy Muchka-Dahl, Agronomist,
Southern Alberta,
muchkan@canola-council.org,,
403-625-3406
Murray Hartman, Alberta Agriculture,
Food & Rural Development,
murray.hartman@gov.ab.ca,
403-782-8024
Kerry Clark, BC Ministry of
Agriculture, Food & Fisheries,
Kerry.Clark@gems9.gov.bc.ca,
250-787-3213
The Canola Watch Report provides just-in-time information on canola production to growers and industry. Contributors to the Canola Agronomy Network are: Manitoba Agriculture & Food; Manitoba Canola Growers Association; Agricore United; Cargill; Saskatchewan Wheat Pool; United Farmers of Alberta; Saskatchewan Agriculture, Food & Rural Revitalization; Saskatchewan Canola Growers Association; Saskatchewan Canola Development Commission; Alberta Agriculture, Food & Rural Development; Alberta Canola Producers Commission; BC Ministry of Agriculture; Food & Fisheries; and the Canola Council of Canada.