In this issue (click the bookmark
links below to move to specific sections of this
report):
Crop development |
Hail | Flower
blast | Insects
| Diseases | 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 behind normal
across most of the Prairies with the exception
of southern Alberta and the Peace region. However,
warm temperatures this past week helped to advance
the crop up to five days except for in northeast
Saskatchewan where crop development remains one
to two weeks behind normal. Crop development ranges
from bolting stage to early flower for late seeded
fields in Manitoba and southern Saskatchewan up
to end of flower to pod filling 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 and small, isolated areas in
Saskatchewan 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
The latest crop report from Alberta Agriculture,
Food and Rural Development is available at:
http://www.gov.ab.ca/acn/200407/1682491D1774E-B02D-4621-A909AC0038CD0212.html
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. Damage was variable depending on the severity of the storm. Potential yield losses will depend on stage of crop and the severity of the damage. Hail damage also 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.
There have been concerns of flower blast due to the heat from the past week. However, high humidity and good soil moisture helped minimize the damage. During heat stress flowers are less receptive to pollen and the duration of pollen release and viability is reduced. Air temperatures in excess of 30 degrees Celsius during flowering can result in flower abortion and reduced pod formation. Gaps (no pod formation) on the main stem are good indicators that flower blasting has occurred. Hail, lack of available sulphur or feeding from insects such as lygus bugs, bertha armyworm and diamondback moth larvae may also result in gaps on the main stem. Further information is available in the Canola Growers Manual in Chapter 5 pages 506 and 507.
Grasshopper
activity remains low with only isolated ‘hot
spots’ in southwest Manitoba, Saskatchewan
and the B.C. Peace. 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, some spraying of
larvae was reported in the LaCrete area in the
north Peace. The cooler than normal weather for
much of the season 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/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/prm2526?opendocument
Check the following link for current trap count
information from Saskatchewan:
http://www.agr.gov.sk.ca/docs/crops/
integrated_pest_management/insects/berthamap0107.asp
Reports of cabbage seedpod
weevil larvae exiting pods in southern Alberta
indicate that canola will be at risk of feeding
damage from new generation weevils in the coming
weeks. At this time of the year be on the lookout
for insects like grasshoppers and lygus
bugs moving into canola from neighbouring
forage fields. Many producers are cutting forages
and these insects will be migrating from harvested
stands into fields with more vegetation.
Check the following links from AAFRD for more
background information on cabbage seedpod weevil:
http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/agdex2538?opendocument
http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/faq7100?opendocument
With
the continued precipitation across most of the
west, and many reports of apothecia throughout
Manitoba and northcentral Alberta, the crop in
many of these areas remains at risk from sclerotinia
infection. There have been reports of fungicide
application in many areas. It is important for
growers to check label recommendations for proper
timing of fungicide application. The odds of obtaining
an economic response will be less when applied
at later growth stages. Growers with late seeded
canola may still benefit from fungicide application
in areas with good to excessive moisture and good
crop growth. Refer to the sclerotinia
checklist Word document from the new Canola
Growers Manual.
If the risk of sclerotinia infection remains questionable
after going through the checklist, consider splitting
the fungicide applications to reduce the associated
cost risk.
For the current list of recommended fungicides
for sclerotinia control, refer to the 2006 Crop Protection Guide:
http://www.agr.gov.sk.ca/docs/crops/CropProtGuideAddendum2006.pdf
The heat from the past week
will have added stress to plants that may be infected
by diseases like clubroot, fusarium
wilt or blackleg. Watch for abnormal
areas that have wilted or prematurely ripening
plants within canola stands that are otherwise
healthy. These areas may be early signs of diseases
that restrict water movement up into the plant.
For more information on these diseases refer to
the following links from AAFRD and MB Agriculture:
http://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/crops/diseases/fac05s00.html
http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/prm2446?opendocument
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.