In this issue (click the
bookmark links below to move to specific sections
of this report):
Seeding progress | Soil
moisture conditions | Soil
temperatures | Weed growth
| Flea beetles |
Grasshoppers | Cutworms
| Seeding tips |
Field Scouting
Canola seeding progress
varies across western Canada. Seeding in Manitoba
ranges from just getting started in the eastern
areas to over 10% seeded in the southwest. Growers
in eastern Saskatchewan have up to 5% seeded
and northern Saskatchewan is just getting going.
Western Saskatchewan reports more seeding progress
especially in the southwest, with up to 20%
seeded. Southern Alberta is farthest along with
up to 70% of the canola seeded around Calgary,
Lethbridge and Medicine Hat. Seeding progress
in central areas ranges from just getting started
in the Thorhild to St. Paul regions to 35% seeded
in the St. Albert to Fort Saskatchewan area.
The Peace region also ranges from up to 25%
seeded near Dawson Creek to just getting started
in the east and north Peace. Seeding in most
areas to date has been concentrating on pulses
and wheat, but widespread seeding of canola
is expected this week, weather permitting.
Soil moisture conditions across western Canada range from poor to good. Most of eastern Manitoba, parts of eastern Saskatchewan near Yorkton, north central Alberta (north and east of Edmonton) and the eastern Peace region have good surface moisture for germination. However, other areas such as western Saskatchewan (south of Hwy. 16) and southern Alberta have poor surface moisture. Some seeding operations in southern Alberta and western Saskatchewan are stalled waiting for precipitation (top 2-3" are powder dry). Most other areas have some surface moisture for crop germination. Windy conditions in many regions this past week, continued to rapidly deplete surface moisture. To minimize moisture loss, growers are encouraged to reduce or eliminate tillage and keep seedbeds firm.
For current maps of moisture
conditions from PFRA for western Canada, check
the following 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/crprpt040503.asp
Additional moisture information
for Alberta is available from Alberta Environment
at:
http://www3.gov.ab.ca/env/water/WS/data/precipmaps/weekly.pdf
Soil temperatures tend to follow the soil moisture differences across western Canada. Areas with higher soil moisture levels are in general still quite cool, while areas with dryer soils are relatively warm (up to 10°C daily high). More emergence of early seeded canola has been noticed in parts of southern Alberta and emergence of volunteer canola has been noted in many other areas. These early emerging areas are prone to possible damage from spring frosts. If frost does occur:
Remember, that a proper assessment of frost damage cannot be made for several days--until it can be determined whether new growth is appearing from damaged plants.
Weed growth has continued to be slow in many areas due to the cool soil conditions. In some cases, growers are considering eliminating a pre-seeding burn off spraying operation due to the lack of obvious weed growth. Other areas, such as western Saskatchewan, southern and central Alberta and the western Peace region have noticed more weed growth this past week, especially winter annuals and dandelion. Growers are reminded to get on their hands and knees to do a proper assessment of early and small emerging weeds. If they decide to eliminate the burn off treatment, it is especially important to do an early in-crop spray to eliminate early weed competition.
Flea beetles have been noticed in many areas of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, southern Alberta and the Peace, although feeding to this point has been limited to volunteer canola and winter annuals. Here are tips for monitoring and assessing flea beetle damage of emerging crops.
Scout fields daily in the spring, especially in areas with high flea beetle pressure last year, and assess damage to cotyledons and the first true leaves of seedlings. Continue scouting for the first 14 days after emergence, especially on sunny, calm days when temperatures exceed 14°C. Determine the extent and distribution of damage by collecting plants at random while walking across the field, as well as checking all field and slough margins where the insects overwinter. Estimate the foliage damage, utilizing visual aids available in the Guide to Crop Protection 2004 (from MAFRI and SAFRR) or the Flea Beetle Field Scouting Guide (from Syngenta) to help in assessing leaf area damage more accurately. Flea beetles generally invade canola fields from the field edges. Damage and flea beetle numbers may be higher at the field edge than farther into the field.
Canola seedlings can withstand 50% leaf loss. However, flea beetles can locate, attack and quickly injure or destroy seedlings shortly after emergence. Therefore, the action threshold for flea beetle feeding on canola is when there is 25% defoliation and flea beetles are present. Applying controls at 25% defoliation will reduce the risk of flea beetle damage reaching a level where yield loss and plant development are substantially reduced. If damage only exceeds threshold levels near the field edges, a foliar spray around the field edges may provide sufficient protection. However, on hot and calm days flea beetles are capable of moving farther distances and may cause significant damage further into the field.
When assessing economic thresholds also consider growing conditions. When flea beetle feeding is combined with poor plant growth during hot, dry weather, canola can tolerate less feeding than if plants are growing under more ideal growing conditions. Check the following provincial crop protection guides for registered seed treatment, granular or foliar insecticides, or contact company representatives in the area:
Manitoba and Saskatchewan - Guide to Crop Protection
Alberta - Crop Protection "Blue Book"
Grasshoppers
have been also been noticed in some parts of
Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Any grasshoppers
emerging at this time of the year are unlikely
to be pest species. For more background information
on grasshoppers, including identifying pest
and non-pest species, refer to the following
website from Dan Johnson at the University of
Lethbridge;
http://people.uleth.ca/~dan.johnson/htm/forecast04.htm
Cutworms have also been noticed in some areas of southern Alberta. Therefore, be on the lookout for damage. Be especially vigilant in areas that had cutworm damage last year. Scout canola fields from early-May to mid-June to determine whether bare areas with no seedlings have resulted from cutworm damage. Check the edges of bare areas for cut-off plants. Wilted, dead or cut-off plants (weed or crop seedlings) will be seen. Dig around the roots of these plants for cutworms. To collect cutworm larvae, a garden trowel and a soil sifter are useful tools. Cutworms may be found in dry surface soil down to about 5 cm (2") below the soil surface. The small, worm-like larvae curl up or attempt to hide in the debris. Pale western cutworm larvae are greenish or slate-grey with a brown head, while mature red-backed cutworm larvae are dark grey with two broad, dull, brick red stripes along the back. Cutworm control may only be necessary in small areas of the field, when bare patches appear and large numbers of the insect are still actively feeding. To determine if most of the larvae are actively feeding, check the translucent abdomen for green coloration. The green colour is an indication that the gut is full of plant material, and the larvae have been feeding. Use an insecticide when cutworms exceed three to four per m2 (yd2), and are actively feeding.
Despite drier surface soil conditions in some areas, ensure that seeding is shallow to facilitate rapid emergence. Keep any pre-seeding tillage shallow to help maintain the seedbed firmness and moisture. As well, apply recommended rates of phosphorus fertilizer for a faster "pop-up" effect in cooler areas and to assist in hastening crop maturity in the fall. As well, in areas with limited surface moisture, consider limiting the amount of seed placed fertilizer, to maximize the moisture available for seed germination and to avoid seedling damage.
If canola is seeded, begin scouting fields as soon as 10 days after seeding. Even if surface emergence is not noticed, scrape back the soil and find the seeds. The condition of the seeds can help determine the cause. Hard seeds are probably an indication that conditions have been too dry, and that more moisture is needed to facilitate germination. However, if the seeds are soft, it may indicate that seed decay is taking place. Early scouting can help to identify potential problems early, when time and resources may allow for remedial action.
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.