In this issue (click the bookmark
links below to move to specific sections of this
report):
Crop Development |
Premature bolting |
Frost | Weed
growth | Flea
beetles | Cutworms
| Grasshoppers
| Cabbage seedpod weevil
| Red turnip beetles
| Blister beetles
| Yellowing leaves
| Sclerotinia
| 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 delayed by one to two weeks compared to normal across most of the Prairies with the exception of southern Alberta. Cooler than normal temperatures continue to be a problem across much of Manitoba and Saskatchewan, but improved in the latter half of this past week. In southern Alberta, some early seeded crops are approaching full bloom. Crop development in other areas varies from the four-leaf stage for late-seeded fields up to the bolting and early flowering stages for early seeded fields. Soil moisture conditions remain favourable for crop growth across Manitoba, eastern and southern Saskatchewan, southern Alberta and the eastern Peace region. However, areas of Alberta near Delia, Endiang, Camrose and west of Grande Prairie to Dawson Creek are dry and need more moisture. As well, warm temperatures (high 20’s) have caused crop wilting throughout many areas of southern and central Alberta as well as the Peace. Timely rains are needed soon across these areas to maintain crop yield potential.
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/crprpt040628.asp
Additional moisture information for Alberta is
available from Alberta Environment at:
http://www3.gov.ab.ca/env/water/WS/data/precipmaps/weekly.pdf
There are many reports of premature bolting (small and spindly plants that are starting to bolt) in parts of Manitoba and southern and eastern Saskatchewan. There are many questions about how yield potential of these plants will be affected. For a detailed discussion on the impact of leaf area index on crop yield potential, refer to the following Word document link.
Frost continued to be reported in scattered locations across western Manitoba and many parts of Saskatchewan. Allow enough time for crop recovery before applying any herbicides, which may compromise herbicide efficacy and/or crop safety.
Weed
growth remained vigorous in many areas this
past week due to the improved soil moisture. Spraying
progress ranged from 50% completion in Manitoba
to nearing completion in most other areas (except
for late-seeded or reseeded fields). Control of
weeds is often better at early growth stages.
Growers are reminded to do a proper assessment
of emerging weeds and ensure that spraying is
timely to avoid yield losses due to weed pressure.
A list of weed control and spraying tips were
discussed in the June 9 report:
http://www.canola-council.org/seed/canola-watch/watch-jun9.shtml
Flea
beetle pressure is declining on earlier-seeded
fields with the advancing crop stages, but remains
high in late-seeded fields across Manitoba and
eastern and southern Saskatchewan where foliar
spraying continues (even with high-rate insecticide
seed treatments). This has been compounded by
slow crop development due to cool temperatures
and excessively wet soils. Frequently scout fields
for flea beetles, especially if temperatures increase.
Refer to the May 5 report for further information
on flea beetles:
http://www.canola-council.org/seed/canola-watch/watch-may5.shtml
Cutworms
continue to be noticed in the Interlake area of
Manitoba near Arborg and Petersfield, in isolated
areas of Saskatchewan, and in the Peace region
of Alberta near Whitemud. Refer to the May 12
report for more background information on monitoring
and controlling cutworms:
http://www.canola-council.org/seed/canola-watch/watch-may12.shtml
The
grasshopper hatch continues and populations
are building in a few areas such as Estevan in
southern Saskatchewan and Eckville in westcentral
Alberta. However, 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
Cabbage
seedpod weevils continue to be found in many
parts of southern and southcentral Alberta such
as Seven Persons, Foremost, Claresholm and Strathmore.
Begin scouting fields at the bud stage with a
sweep net to check for levels of both cabbage
seedpod weevil and lygus bugs. The current threshold
for cabbage seedpod weevils is three to four per
sweep at early flowering. 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
Red turnip beetles continued to be reported near Spalding in eastcentral Saskatchewan and Silver Valley in the Alberta Peace region. Damage occurs when beetles move into a canola field from a neighbouring field sown to canola the previous year.
Blister
beetles have been noticed in parts of Alberta.
Blister beetles can range in colour from iridescent
magenta to completely black (http://www.canola-council.org/images_insects.shtml).
They are not often a pest in canola and are usually
beneficial insects, especially as they prey on
grasshopper eggs. For more information on blister
beetles, refer to the following AAFRD link:
http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/agdex1157?opendocument
There
have been numerous reports across the Prairies
with regards to yellowing or bronzing of canola
leaves, especially on Liberty Link canola.
This may be caused by a number of factors, but
this year the likely causes are frost, surfactant
burn from the herbicide (especially if reduced
water volumes were used, or under optimum spraying
conditions) or a combination of these factors.
Large yellow or wilted areas are usually a sign
of frost, while surfactant burn will usually show
up as smaller round patches, similar to spray
droplet deposition.
This damage is usually minor, and the crop will
outgrow the condition, especially under good growing
conditions. To reduce the potential for this yellowing,
avoid spraying during or shortly after frost,
and keep spray water volumes at recommended levels.
As
the crop approaches bolting and early flowering,
consider the risk for sclerotinia infection.
The recent MAFRI Insect and Disease survey (http://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/news/insect/miu.html)
has noted the presence of apothecia in many areas
of Manitoba. In areas of the prairies that have
good to ample soil moisture conditions and good
crop growth, assess crops for potential sclerotinia
infection and possible fungicide application.
Refer to the sclerotinia
checklist Word document from the new Canola
Growers Manual.
For the current list of recommended fungicides
for sclerotinia control, refer to the 2004 Crop
Protection Guide:
http://www.agr.gov.sk.ca/docs/crops/CropProtGuide2004Disease.pdf
Due to slow crop development in many areas (caused by multiple factors including cold, wet and dry soils; frost; flea beetles; cutworms; wireworms and seedling diseases), be vigilant in the frequency and intensity of field scouting. Many of these fields have lower than average plant populations and these factors combine to make the need for timely agronomic decisions more important than ever. Remember that the application of many herbicides also can cause a delay in crop progress as the crop metabolizes the herbicide. Ensure that the application of crop protection products is at the earlier threshold stages rather than the later threshold stages before applying the products. This helps to enhance product activity in most cases, reduce the stress on the crop from the pest, and maximize the crop 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.