In this issue (click the bookmark
links below to move to specific sections of this
report):
Crop development |
Hail | Flower
blast | Insects
| Sweep Net |
Diseases | 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 varied across
most of the Prairies, ranging from bolting to
end of flowering and pod development. Manitoba
has two stages of crops, early planted that is
full bloom to end of bloom and some late planted
fields that are still in the early bolting stage
to first flower. Nearly half of the crop in Saskatchewan
is approaching the end of bloom with the remainder
in full bloom stage. Alberta continues to be divided
with the south in pod development and the central
and Peace regions in the end of bloom and beginning
of pod development. Soil moisture conditions continued
to improve across most of western Canada with
both general regional rains as well as localized
thundershowers. However, some areas in the central
Peace region have received too much moisture where
crops are showing waterlogged stress. Although
dry areas of Alberta in the north Peace between
Manning and Fort Vermilion and small, isolated
areas in Saskatchewan received some localised
showers this past week, it may not be enough to
show great benefits to crops in later stages of
development.
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/crprpt040726.asp?
firstPick=Reports&secondPick=Crop%20Report
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 continues to be 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.
Refer to the following link for a photo of flower
blast:
http://www.canola-council.org/images/canolablanks.jpg
Reports of isolated ‘hot spots’ of grasshoppers, bertha armyworm moths and lygus throughout the prairies continue but no chemical control has been reported this past week in canola. 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. Economic thresholds may vary from 30-50 lygus per 10-sweep sample. However, be aware of the stage the lygus are in. If a large number of nymphs are very small (aphid-sized) then wait a week and sample again. The larger the lygus the more damage will potentially be done. Also sample in the good areas of the field as higher numbers will be found in poor or thin areas. ‘Sap spots’ are also a good indicator of lygus damage. 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.
For more background information
on bertha armyworm moth monitoring, refer to the
following AAFRD link for the sample map and discussion
of how to interpret the moth counts:
http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/prm2526?opendocument
The current bertha armyworm moth map can be found at the following link:
http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/prm2526
`
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. The damage is done, however the adults
may potentially re-emerge and feed like lygus
bugs. Humid conditions will also cause other disease
pathogens to enter the pods in the exit holes
and deteriorate any remaining seed in the pods
or contribute to shattering losses.
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
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.
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
As the
crop is nearing pod development, 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. When scouting
fields be aware of what is causing the damage
and be sure to properly document the information
for future reference and decision-making aides.
Not only scout for insects and diseases but for
nutrient deficiencies as well, since as
the crop matures they become more evident. Pay
close attention to misses, corners and overlaps
or check strips to help determine if your fertility
plan worked and to help make important fertility
decisions in the upcoming season.
Any questions regarding this overall report should
be directed to Christine Mardell, Agronomist,
Peace River Region for the Canola Council of Canada
at mardellc@canola-council.org
ph: 780-518-1513 or fax:780-402-3937.
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.
