Soil moisture conditions
across much of western
Canada remain good to
excellent for crop development.
However, dry surface soil
conditions are spreading
through many areas of
northern Saskatchewan,
and north-central and
Peace region of Alberta.
Soil moisture is critically
low in a band north of
North Battleford and the
north Peace near La Crete.
Rain will be needed soon
in these areas to maintain
crop survival. As well,
most of Saskatchewan has
had below normal precipitation
for May. For current PFRA
maps of moisture conditions,
check the following links:
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/crprpt030616.pdf
Crop development has been steady over most areas this past week with many fields approaching canopy closure in Manitoba, eastern Saskatchewan and southern Alberta. Many of the later seeded fields are near the same level of crop development as early seeded fields, indicating the setback suffered by the earlier stresses of frost, cool temperatures, seedling diseases and insects--especially flea beetles, cutworms and wireworms. Although flea beetles continue to be seen in many areas, crop development is generally ahead of the flea beetles and able to compensate for any damage.
Weed spraying has progressed well over most regions this past week. Many growers are close to applying their second herbicide applications (glyphosate and Liberty). Suspected herbicide damage with all herbicide-tolerant (HT) systems has been widely reported. Remember that these HT varieties are tolerant, not resistant to the particular herbicides. Crop setback can occur especially when the crop is under stress (such as drought, cool temperatures or flooding) or under ideal spraying conditions (good moisture, high humidity, warm temperatures) when herbicide uptake by the plants is enhanced. Allow several days to determine whether the plants will recover from the herbicide applications.
Grasshopper numbers
continue to increase in
western Manitoba, northern
Saskatchewan and eastern
and east-central Alberta.
Damage is also occurring
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
Growers must continue
to be vigilant in their
scouting for grasshoppers,
especially in areas of
moderate and high risk.
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
Cutworms continue
to be a problem in the
parkland areas of Manitoba,
northern and northwestern
areas of Saskatchewan
and southern, northeastern
and north Peace areas
of Alberta. Check the
May 22 crop report for
a discussion on cutworms:
http://www.canola-council.org/seed/canola-watch/watch-may22.shtml
More information on cutworms
is available on the following
MAF page: http://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/crops/insects/fad06s00.html
Beet webworm moths
have been observed again
this past week in many
areas of western Saskatchewan
and Alberta.
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
Diamondback moths continue to be caught in moth traps throughout western Canada. Currently, no areas are considered to be at great risk from this pest. However, this situation is subject to change, if trap counts spike higher in the future. Future Canola Crop Watch Reports will report on the results of counts of the diamondback moth trapping program.
Red turnip beetles have been noticed in a few fields in southern Alberta. Both the larvae (grubs) and the adult beetles feed on canola, but the adults are the most damaging. The mature grubs are black and about 1 cm long, with a rough-skinned, segmented body. The adult beetles appear until early July and are 7 mm long with bright red and black patches on their heads and three distinct black stripes running down their backs. The adults typically move en masse into canola from the field edge, completely devouring the canola plants as they go. As a result, one or two passes of the sprayer over and in front of the invading insects with a recommended insecticide are often sufficient for control.
Alfalfa loopers have also been observed in some fields in southern Alberta, especially around the Brooks and Picture Butte areas. Monitor canola for the pest, particularly if the crop is grown in the vicinity of alfalfa fields. Mature larvae are light to olive green and about 25 mm long with a paler green head and a light stripe down each side. They also have two light stripes along their backs, and as the name suggests, they move by looping. The damage from the larvae includes defoliation as well as clipping of flowers and small pods. Scout for the larvae from the start of flowering and watch for flowers disappearing. Several viral diseases attack alfalfa looper, so monitor damage and delay spraying as long as possible to allow an opportunity for natural control.
As mentioned in last
week’s report, insect
pressure in canola
is a concern in many areas
of western Canada this
year. To reiterate, when
considering foliar insecticide
applications for specific
pests it is important
that growers utilize economic
thresholds whenever they
are available and not
give in to ‘revenge’
spraying. This not
only helps ensure that
the application will provide
an economic benefit, but
also helps reduce any
negative impacts on beneficial
insects that may also
be present in the crop.
Check the following provincial
crop protection guides
for registered products
or contact company representatives
in your area:
Manitoba and Saskatchewan
- Guide to Crop Protection
Alberta - Crop Protection
"Blue Book"
Leaf cupping has been reported in some areas of northern and northeastern Saskatchewan and southern Alberta. Suspected causes include drought, herbicide injury and nutrient (particularly sulphur) deficiencies. Even in areas that have adequate soil moisture, temporary drought stress or nutrient deficiency symptoms can develop when there is rapid above-ground plant growth, but where root development has not been able to keep pace with the top growth. To confirm moisture stress, re-examine the fields in the early morning, after plants have been able to recover during the night. To assess whether nutrient deficiencies are present, consider a plant tissue test as well as soil testing of the affected areas. This will determine whether there indeed are nutrient deficiencies within the soil or whether the deficiency symptoms are the result of nutrient stranding due to limited plant root development. Further comments regarding plant tissue testing and post-emergent fertilizer application were discussed in the June 4 report.
Direct overall questions regarding this report 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 & 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
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.