Canola Council


Canola Watch

2003 Canola Watch Reports

Canola Crop Watch Report No. 6
Western Canada – June 4, 2003

Canola seeding is completed in most areas. Some frost-damaged fields in western Saskatchewan remain to be reseeded. As well, seeding of B. rapa (Polish) continues in the northern Peace region where seeding was delayed.

Soil moisture conditions across most of western Canada remain good to excellent for germination and early crop development. However, parts of western Manitoba are experiencing dry surface moisture conditions. Rain will be needed soon in these areas to maintain crop yield potential. 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/crprpt030602.pdf

Windy conditions were noted again in Saskatchewan and southern and south-central Alberta causing some soil erosion. However, recent rainfall throughout most of these areas has alleviated the dry soil surface conditions and the potential for further wind erosion.

Poor canola emergence, caused mainly by deep seeding and seedling disease, has been reported in eastern, southwestern and the Interlake regions of Manitoba. Poor canola emergence has also been reported in southern and southcentral Alberta near Medicine Hat and Drumheller. This is due to seed stranding in dry soil after being broadcast seeded, and soil crusting after heavy rains. Further comments regarding crop emergence were covered in last week’s report. http://www.canola-council.org/seed/canola-watch/watch-may28.shtml

Weed growth continues to be heavy for this time of year due to favourable moisture conditions. Weed spraying is expected to be general in most areas by the end of the week. Review the following weed control and spraying tips:

Dandelions have been reported in many areas of western Canada and are especially bad in parts of northwestern Manitoba in direct seeded fields. Dandelions can be difficult to control under direct seeding and the following link from AAFRD offers some control suggestions:
http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/agdex2511.

Flea beetles are more widespread than in previous years. In most areas of Manitoba, flea beetle pressure is heavy with reports of severe damage, even in some fields treated with extended control seed treatment products. In Saskatchewan, flea beetles are being sprayed in all areas except the southwest. High flea beetle pressure is occurring in the Yorkton area. In Alberta, flea beetles have been observed in most areas with spraying near Marwayne and Lloydminster, in many areas of southern Alberta, and in the Peace region near Eaglesham and Wanham.

Due to the increase in overall flea beetle pressure this year, be more vigilant in crop monitoring, especially in early seeded fields where emergence was slow, and if the canola plants are reaching 21 days since planting (product protection may be running out). If the canola plant is actively growing and is moving to the 2nd to 3rd and on to the 4th true leaves and is handling the feeding, spraying is not warranted. If the canola plant is growing slowly and the feeding damage is getting ahead of the crop development, spraying may be warranted. Tips for monitoring and assessing flea beetle damage of emerging crops was discussed in the May 7 crop report (http://www.canola-council.org/seed/canola-watch/watch-may7.shtml). For additional information on flea beetle scouting and monitoring from SAFRR and MAF:
http://www.agr.gov.sk.ca/DOCS/crops/integrated_pest_management/insects/Fleabetl.asp
?firstPick=Crops&secondpick=Oilseeds&thirdpick=Canola
http://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/crops/insects/fad09s00.html
http://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/crops/insects/fad01s00.html

Grasshoppers are hatching with numbers building in many areas of southern and eastern Alberta, and western and northern Saskatchewan. Spraying for grasshoppers in cereals has occurred in western areas of Saskatchewan near Rosetown. It is important for growers to recognize that not all species of grasshopper are pest species. The two predominant pest species are the two-striped grasshopper and the clear-winged grasshopper. Scouting techniques and thresholds were discussed in last week’s crop report (http://www.canola-council.org/seed/canola-watch/watch-may28.shtml)

The following photos from Dan Johnson of Agriculture Canada in Lethbridge will assist in scouting and identifying grasshoppers (click on image for larger view):

Two-striped grasshopper,
less than one day old		 Two-striped grasshopper,
a few hours old		 Two-striped grasshopper,
one-day-old
Clear-winged grasshopper
one-day-old		 Migratory grasshopper
one-day-old

The latest grasshopper forecast map for western Canada from Dan Johnson is located at:
http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/prm6052

More information on thresholds and grasshopper species is available at:
http://www.agr.gov.sk.ca/DOCS/crops/integrated_pest_management/insects/grasshopperff.asp
?firstPick=Crops&secondpick=Integrated%20Pest%20Management&thirdpick=Insects

Cutworms have again been noticed in western Manitoba, in the interlake near Arborg and in areas of Saskatchewan east of Saskatoon. Damage is more severe noted in areas that experienced cutworms last year. 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

While conducting crop scouting, be on the lookout for possible nutrient deficiencies. Many areas had lower fertilizer application rates due to carryover from last year’s drought and the high cost of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers this spring. Be prepared to conduct crop tissue testing at the appropriate stage and remember that topdressing of nitrogen and sulphur fertilizer is possible up to the bolting stage--as long as rainfall occurs to move the fertilizer into the root zone. This helps in alleviating any deficiencies and/or ensuring optimum yields if sub-optimal fertilizer rates were applied prior to and/or at seeding.

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.


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