Soil
moisture conditions across
much of Manitoba and Alberta
remain good to excellent for
crop development, but dry
pockets remain in southwest
regions of Manitoba and northwest
and central Saskatchewan.
Precipitation (accumulations
of _ to 2 inches) over the
weekend in many areas of northern
grain belt in western Canada
has alleviated dry soil moisture
conditions. Heavy rains have
caused flooding in some of
those regions. Dryer than
normal conditions have been
reported throughout much of
southwestern grain belt in
Saskatchewan. Recent high
temperatures and low precipitation
have exacerbated soil moisture
conditions in those regions.
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
Plant development in most areas has now reached the early bloom stage. Early seeded crops are generally at full bloom (60% plus bloom). Some areas in east-central Manitoba and southern Alberta have been in full bloom for over two weeks. Later seeded crops are in the bolting stage. Warm weather across most regions has accelerated crop development. However, canola in the Peace River region is slightly behind. Some bud and flower blasting due to the high (30+oC) temperatures has occurred in all regions of western Canada.
Missing pods (blanks) on the main stem have been reported in a number of areas. A number of factors, or combination of factors, may contribute to this phenomenon. The most probable cause is flower blast. 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 will result in flower abortion and reduced pod formation. Gaps (no pod formation) on the main stem are a good indicator of flower blast. Hail, lack of available sulphur and feeding from insects such as lygus bugs, bertha and diamondback 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.
Grasshoppers
continue to cause damage in
some areas of northwest and
central Saskatchewan as well
as in eastern and north-central
Alberta. Grasshoppers continue
to cause damage in areas outside
the high risk areas outlined
in earlier grasshopper forecast
maps for 2006:
http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/prm10642
Additional
information on scouting and
identifying pest species of
grasshopper and thresholds
was discussed in two previous
crop reports:
http://www.canola-council.org/seed/canola-watch/watch-jun4.shtml
http://www.canola-council.org/seed/canola-watch/watch-may28.shtml
Hail Damage has been reported in many areas of western Canada. Spotty hail in central and eastern Saskatchewan caused moderate to extensive damage in some fields. More severe hail occurred in the North Battleford to Radisson area and in a line running from Waldhiem to Nipawin. Pea to loonie-size hail was reported in these areas causing extensive damage to affected fields. 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 in Chapter 5 pages 511 and 512.
Beet
webworm moths continue
to be identified again this
past week in many areas of
Alberta and western and northern
Saskatchewan. Numbers reported
are similar to those noticed
in past weeks. Scout for the
eggs (laid by the moths) and
emerging larvae on the undersides
of leaves of preferred plant
species such as lamb’s-quarters,
and on canola.
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
Larva identification - alfalfa looper and the beet webworm may be confused due to overlapping life cycles. Excellent larva photos are available in the Canola Growers Manual in Chapter 10b pages 1006 (alfalfa looper larva) and 1007 (beet web worm larva) to distinguish between these two pests.
Lygus
bugs continue to be found
in northwestern Saskatchewan
and Alberta, especially where
first cut alfalfa is continuing.
Bud damage has been reported
in isolated cases and spraying
has occurred in northern areas
of Saskatchewan around Meadow
Lake and Tisdale. The specific
protocols involved in sweeping
for insects as well as action
thresholds were discussed
in last weeks’ crop report:
http://www.canola-council.org/seed/canola-watch/watch-jun25.shtml
Nutrient deficiencies are showing up on flowering canola in some regions of the Peace, central and eastern Saskatchewan. Purpling of upper leaf margins, stems and poor pod set are common symptoms of sulphur deficiency. With a severe deficiency the leaves tend to be poorly developed and cupped, particularly in the upper portion of the plant, with a purple color on the backs and tips of the leaves. The symptoms are not quite as severe on the bottom of the plant as they are on the top of the plant. During flowering, newly forming florets will often abort.
In a moderate
sulphur deficiency, the upper
leaves may be cupped while
the lower leaves appear healthy.
The flowers are often paler
than normal for the variety
(i.e. pale yellow instead
of dark yellow, almost white
instead of pale yellow). There
is a reddish-purple tinge
to the leaves, stems and pods.
Pods form slowly and are small
and poorly filled with shrunken
and shriveled seeds. The number
of pods decreases towards
the upper part of the plants
with many seeds aborted or
the pods totally empty. These
symptoms commonly occur in
patches in the field and are
easily seen at maturity; however,
on severely deficient soils
entire fields can be affected.
For more information on sulphur
deficiency symptoms, refer
to the CCC web site: http://www.canola-council.org/
or the Canola Growers Manual
Chapter 9 – pages 929
to 931.
Spraying for sclerotinia continues in central and eastern Manitoba. Wet soil conditions in many other areas, such as southeastern Saskatchewan and central Alberta, may put canola at a higher risk of yield losses from sclerotinia compared to previous years. Soil moisture and weather conditions are favorable for disease development as the crop progresses through the 20% bloom stage in many areas.
Direct
overall questions regarding
this report to David Vanthuyne,
Agronomist, Eastern Saskatchewan
with the Canola Council of
Canada at vanthuyd@canola-council.org
ph/fax:306-782-7799.
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.