In
this issue (click the bookmark links below to
move to specific sections of this report):
Seeding progress | Maturity
considerations | Deep
seeding | Soil
moisture conditions | Canola
emergence | Frost
| Weed growth |
Spraying tips | Flea
beetles | Cutworms
& wireworms | Grasshoppers
| Nutrient deficiencies
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
Canola
seeding continues to be delayed by rain across
most areas of Manitoba and southeastern and southcentral
Saskatchewan. Reports indicate that most of the
originally intended canola acres are planted in
Manitoba, but due to the seeding delays, many
acres of long season special crops such as soybeans,
edible beans and sunflowers may get switched to
canola. Manitoba Crop Insurance Corporation has
extended the seeding deadline by five days. Growers
in Manitoba should refer to the following link
for details on the revised crop insurance deadlines:
http://www.mcic-online.com/mcicweb01.nsf/webpages_deadlines.html?OpenPage&ch
Seeding is finished across the rest of the Prairies.
Growers
who still have canola left to seed should reassess
the maturity suitability of their chosen
varieties. Further discussion of this subject
was covered in the May 26 report
(http://www.canola-council.org/seed/canola-watch/watch-may26.shtml).
If the variety does not meet maturity requirements,
ask your local retailer to suggest other suitable
varieties. Manitoba growers can check the
following link to determine their frost-free days:
http://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/climate/waa50s00.html
Some reseeding is taking place in southern Alberta due to deep seeding. The canola plants appear to be normal, but upon digging them up, the roots ‘mush off’ when touched. In these instances, seedling diseases appear to have set in and rotted off the roots as a result of deep seeding.
Soil
moisture conditions improved across many parts
of Alberta and Saskatchewan this past week. Many
areas received between 0.25 to 2" of rain.
However, soil moisture conditions remain poor
to fair in pockets of west central Saskatchewan,
southcentral Alberta near Delia and the southwest
Peace. More rain in central and eastern Manitoba
and southeastern Saskatchewan prolonged already
wet conditions. As well, severe thunderstorms
northeast of Calgary near Acme and Three Hills
dumped up to 8" of rain. A discussion about
the effects of excess soil moisture on canola
growth was covered in last week’s report:
http://www.canola-council.org/seed/canola-watch/watch-jun2.shtml
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/crprpt040607.asp
Additional moisture information for Alberta is
available from Alberta Environment at:
http://www3.gov.ab.ca/env/water/WS/data/precipmaps/weekly.pdf
Canola emergence and early crop growth are delayed across most areas, except for southern Alberta, where some early seeded canola near Lethbridge is starting to bolt. The more favourable temperatures experienced this past week along with the generally good to excellent soil moisture conditions have improved canola emergence numbers. However, the rate of plant growth remains behind average. The delayed crop development continues to fuel concerns regarding the window of protection that can be expected from seed treatments following canola emergence. As adverse weather delays crop development, it puts greater stress on plants, especially when faced with multiple pressures such as insects, disease and frost. Scout fields frequently following emergence for any signs of damage so that rescue treatments can be applied where required.
Frost
(up to –5°C)
was reported this past week in parts of northcentral
Alberta including Derwent and Glendon and in central
Alberta near Red Deer. As well, hail was
reported in areas of southwestern Manitoba, southcentral
Alberta near Beiseker, Three Hills And Didsbury
and southern Alberta near Taber and High River.
Allow time for crop recovery before making reseeding
decisions. Several fields in southern Alberta
that had the cotyledons burnt off completely by
frost two weeks ago, have recovered to the two-leaf
stage within 10 days. Growers need to allow enough
time to see if the crop will recover after major
stresses, which include frost, flooding and hail.
Refer to the May 26 report for more information
on how to make reseeding decisions:
http://www.canola-council.org/seed/canola-watch/watch-may26.shtml
Weed growth continues to be delayed in many areas along with the crop growth. Spraying has started and should be general in most areas later this week, except for southern Alberta, which already has up to 60% of the acres sprayed. However, weed growth continues to be advanced compared to the crop in most areas, especially where a pre-emergent burnoff was not applied. Volunteer cereals, wild oats and other grassy weeds are especially noted in Manitoba and eastern Saskatchewan. Growers may have to consider a two-pass herbicide program in these fields, one with a herbicide to control the grassy weeds, and a subsequent pass with their respective herbicide-resistant system to control broadleaf and later emerging grassy weeds. Growers are reminded to do a proper assessment of emerging weeds and ensure that spraying is done early to avoid yield losses due to early weed pressure.
Review the following weed control and spraying tips:
Flea beetles continue to be reported in: central Alberta near St. Albert, Vegreville, Viking and Paradise Valley; many areas of the Peace, where a second insecticide spray is being applied in some fields; in parts of western and northeastern Saskatchewan and near Indian Head; and across many areas of Manitoba (in increasing beetle numbers), particularly in the east central region and the northwest near Gilbert Plains, Grandview, Inglis and Swan River where spraying has occurred.
Higher insecticide seed treatment rates appear to be performing better than lower rates, especially on early seeded fields. However, even high rate insecticide rates on early-planted canola are breaking down in fields in northwest Manitoba, which now require foliar spraying. Some reports in these areas have indicated that many growers plan to use an insecticide with their early weed control spray pass. Although this may seem to be an attractive option from a time efficiency perspective, growers need to ensure that waiting to do a herbicide-insecticide tank mix does not compromise their insecticide or herbicide efficacy or increase the risk for crop damage.
Refer to the May 5 report for
further information on flea beetles:
http://www.canola-council.org/seed/canola-watch/watch-may5.shtml
Refer to the following link for more information on stem feeding by flea beetles: http://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/news/insect/miu03_05_27.html
Cutworms
continue to be noticed in Alberta near New Norway,
Nisku, Wetaskiwin, Paradise Valley and St. Albert;
in B.C. near Dawson Creek and Rolla; in Saskatchewan
near Carrot River; and in Manitoba near Elkhorn
and Swan River. Wireworms continue to be
reported in southern Alberta near Medicine Hat.
Refer to the May 12 report for more background
information on cutworms and wireworms:
http://www.canola-council.org/seed/canola-watch/watch-may12.shtml
The
grasshopper hatch continues and populations
are building in many areas of Alberta and Saskatchewan.
One grower in the Meota area of northwest Saskatchewan
reported up to 200 grasshoppers per square foot.
Due to the warmer temperatures forecast for many
areas this week, be especially vigilant for emerging
grasshoppers, especially in fields with high grasshopper
pressure last year. For more background information
on grasshoppers, including identifying pest and
non-pest species, refer to the following website
by Dan Johnson at the University of Lethbridge:
http://people.uleth.ca/~dan.johnson/htm/forecast04.htm
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 fertilizers this spring. Be prepared to conduct crop tissue testing at the appropriate stage and remember that topdressing 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.
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.