Canola Council


Canola Watch

2003 Canola Watch Reports

Canola Crop Watch Report No. 12
Western Canada – July 15, 2003

Soil moisture conditions remain good to excellent for crop development throughout Manitoba except for the southwest area of the province. Moisture conditions are variable throughout Saskatchewan. Rainfall occurred throughout much of the province with accumulations ranging from 1/10" to 3". However, the southwest and the drier pockets of the southeast and northwest areas of the province reported the lowest amounts of rainfall. Moisture conditions in Alberta remain good to excellent. However, the southern part of the province and an area west of Spirit River in the Peace River Region has become dry and in need of moisture soon.
For current PFRA maps of moisture conditions, check these Web pages:
http://www.agr.gc.ca/pfra/drought/drprec4_e.htm
http://www.agr.gc.ca/pfra/drought/drprecw_e.htm
http://www.agr.gc.ca/pfra/drought/prgrowing_e.htm

Additional moisture information for Alberta is available from Alberta Environment at:
http://www3.gov.ab.ca/env/water/WS/data/precipmaps/weekly.pdf

The latest crop report from Saskatchewan Agriculture, Food & Rural Revitalization is available at:
http://www.agr.gov.sk.ca/docs/reports/crop_report/crprpt030622.asp?
firstPick=Reports&secondPick=Crop%20Report

Hail Damage has been reported in many areas of western Canada again this week. 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, Chapter 5, pages 511 and 512.

Insects identified in the past week include diamondback moth, flea beetles, red turnip beetle, grasshoppers, beet webworm, alfalfa looper, lygus bugs, and bertha armyworms. There is potential for some of these insects (diamondback moth, lygus bugs and beet webworm) to reach economic thresholds in the next few weeks. It is very important to keep scouting for these insects as the crop finishes flowering and starts podding. It is at the early podding stage that the crop is most vulnerable to economic losses from these insects. It is also important to use proper techniques when scouting for various insects. Use a sweep net to determine thresholds for lygus bugs and cabbage seedpod weevil. A sweep net cannot be used for determining thresholds for diamondback moth, bertha armyworm, beet webworm or alfalfa looper larvae. An estimation of the number of these larvae within a square meter is a more accurate determination of thresholds for these insects. Watch for more detailed information on action thresholds for these insects in upcoming crop reports. Click on the following links to previous Canola Crop Watch Reports to find out more information about some of the insects mentioned above:

For more information and images of the moth and larvae, visit these Web pages:
http://vc55moths.topcities.com/imagearchive/pyralid/loxostegesticticalis.htm
http://www.canola-council.org/images_insects.html

Red turnip beetle and alfalfa looper:
http://www.canola-council.org/seed/canola-watch/watch-jun18.shtml

Lygus bugs, diamond back moth and sweep net scouting:
http://www.canola-council.org/seed/canola-watch/watch-jun25.shtml
http://www.canola-council.org/PDF/sweepcard_04.pdf
http://www.canola.ab.ca/acpc/lygus.shtml

Spraying for sclerotinia has been reported in various areas of western Canada. It has been completed on many acres in eastern Manitoba and in the wetter regions of Saskatchewan and Alberta. The risk of sclerotinia infection on some of the later seeded fields may have been reduced in areas where conditions have become drier. Weather is one of the most important factors in the development of sclerotinia infection. As the warmer and drier part of the summer approaches, the likelihood of sclerotinia infection that warrants spraying decreases.

For the most recent sclerotinia risk forecast map, click on the following link:
http://www.aceweather.ca/canola.cfm

Alternaria may develop in areas with heavy plant stands and wet conditions. The disease cycle can continue throughout the season intensify at flowering when these heavy crop canopies promote humid conditions. A foliar fungicide can be applied at the 95% bloom stage to increase yield of infected stands.

Direct overall questions regarding this report to David Blais, Agronomist, Western Saskatchewan with the Canola Council of Canada at blaisd@canola-council.org : ph/fax 306-895-2122.

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 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 & Southern Alberta, moiseyd@canola-council.org, 403-553-2829
Christine Mardell, Agronomist, Peace River Region, mardellc@canola-council.org, 780-518-1513
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
John Mayko, Agronomic Research and Extension Manager, maykoj@canola-council.org, ph/fax:780-764-2593.

The Canola Crop 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, James Richardson International, 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.


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