In this issue:
(click the bookmarked links below to move to specific sections of this report)
Soil moisture conditions vary widely
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
Soil moisture conditions across western Canada continue to range from fair to excess. Many areas received more precipitation in the form of scattered showers over the past week. More heavy rains in Manitoba, especially in central and eastern regions, continued to exacerbate the already wet conditions in many fields. However, some crops that escaped significant rainfall did show signs of recovery from excessive moisture. Soil moisture in most other areas of western Canada is still good. However, there are some areas in southwestern Saskatchewan, eastern Alberta and central Alberta that would like to see some more rain to help finish the crop.
For current maps of moisture conditions from PFRA for western Canada, check the following link: http://www.agr.gc.ca/pfra/drought/prpay05_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 and soil moisture map from Saskatchewan Agriculture, Food & Rural Revitalization is available at:
http://www.agr.gov.sk.ca/docs/reports/crop_report/crprpt050717.pdf
Additional moisture information for Alberta is available from Alberta Environment at:
http://www3.gov.ab.ca/env/water/ws/data/precipmaps/precipmaps.html
Canola development continues to progress. Growth generally ranges from early flower for late seeded canola fields to late bloom and early pod filling for early seeded fields. Most fields are at 50 to 75% bloom. Overall, established canola crops throughout western Canada appear to be in good condition, except for areas that have suffered flooding damage for an extended period of time. These conditions are now most prevalent throughout much of central and eastern Manitoba and a small pocket in southeastern Saskatchewan.
Severe hail was reported in two separate storms in western Saskatchewan last week. The first storm started in Alberta near Consort and followed a slight northeast path through Reward, Scott, Cando and into the Blaine Lake area. The second storm occurred in a 100 to 150 km strip south of Swift Current. Many fields were completely wiped out with many reports of building and vehicle damage as well. Another small hail storm around Birch River, Manitoba also destroyed some fields in that area. In fields that were not completely destroyed, hail damage can also allow points of entry for diseases such as sclerotinia stem rot, alternaria black spot and blackleg to infect canola plants. Further information is available at the following link: http://www.canola-council.org/stress_hail.aspx
There are continuing reports of blossom blasting (significant pod abortion) in some fields, particularly in the eastern and northwest parts of Manitoba and the northwest and northeast regions of Saskatchewan. There are many questions about the cause of these symptoms. The two most likely causes of reduced pod formation are environmental stress or previous insect feeding damage to the buds. While blossom blasting is normally associated with hot and dry weather, any stress on the plant can contribute to an increase in the number of aborted pods. For example, in soils at or near saturation warmer weather will have increased the plants’ requirement for oxygen, causing increased stress and more pronounced symptoms. Other contributing factors could include heavy rain, hail or wind storms which cause flowers to drop prematurely. For more information about the effects of waterlogging on canola check the following link: http://www.canola-council.org/stress_moisture.aspx
Insect feeding on buds, flowers and young pods can also cause blasting (buds turn white and fail to develop), flowers to fall without forming pods, or pods to drop without maturing. Diamondback larvae were the most likely culprit this year, as they were present in many areas at the critical budding and bolting stage. It is important to note that canola does have the potential to compensate right up to the end of flowering by increasing the number of branches, flowers and pods produced, provided conditions allow it to. For a detailed discussion of how canola flowers, and its ability to compensate following a period of stress, check the following link: http://www.canola-council.org/gs_stage6.aspx
Diamondback moth larval activity was generally slow over the past week. However, all growth stages can now be found in many fields, as the next generation of adult moths start to emerge and deposit eggs that hatch into small larvae. Throughout the prairies there have been isolated reports of fields being sprayed for larvae. Growers should continue to scout for larval development over the next few weeks. Yield loss can be substantial if larvae begin to feed on developing pods. The economic threshold for diamondback moth larvae feeding on developing pods is approximately 200 to 300 per square metre. Also, it is important to note that sweep nets are not appropriate for determining if the economic thresholds of either diamondback moth or bertha armyworm larvae have been breached. For more information on late season scouting techniques refer to the following press release: http://www.canola-council.org/about-us/media-news/media-releases/media-jun2005.shtml
For current diamondback moth survey updates, refer to the following links:
http://ncrxeis4.agr.gc.ca/ppmnMaps/
For more information on diamondback moth, refer to the following SAFRR link:
http://www.agr.gov.sk.ca/DOCS/crops/integrated_pest_management/insects/Diamond.asp?firstPick=
Crops&secondpick=Integrated%20Pest%20Management&thirdpick=Insects
For a picture of a parasitoid wasp of diamondbacks, refer to the following link: http://www.canola-council.org/parasiticwaspsid.aspx
Cabbage seedpod weevil spraying in southern Alberta is all but complete for now as the majority of the crop has progressed beyond the appropriate bloom stage for application. For late fields that are not yet beyond 20% bloom, scout with a sweep net to ensure that numbers are not above the threshold of three to four per sweep at early flowering. It was also reported that weevil numbers in southwestern Saskatchewan are up from previous years. At this point, it is uncertain how much further they have spread into Saskatchewan. For more information on cabbage seedpod weevils, refer to the following link:
http://www.agr.gov.sk.ca/docs/crops/integrated_pest_management/insects/cabbageweevil.asp?firstPick=
Crops&secondpick=Integrated%20Pest%20Management&thirdpick=Insects
Bertha armyworm moth traps have been monitoring adult moth activity throughout western Canada. The trapping season is near completion for this growing season and areas that recorded the highest numbers are the Wanham, Eaglesham and Fahler areas of the Peace region and an area around Lloydminster, Saskatchewan. Spikes in moth numbers and emergence of some bertha armyworm larvae were also noted in areas of southwestern Manitoba and northeastern Saskatchewan. Growers in areas that recorded high moth numbers should begin scouting for larvae.
For more information on the bertha armyworm, including accurate identification and thresholds for insecticide control, refer to the following links:
http://www.canola-council.org/bertha.aspx
http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/prm2521
For bertha armyworm map for Saskatchewan, click on the following link:
http://www.agr.gov.sk.ca/docs/crops/integrated_pest_management/insects/berthamap0107.asp?firstPick=
Crops&secondpick=Integrated%20Pest%20Management&thirdpick=Insects
For interpreting bertha armyworm trap numbers, refer to the following link:
http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/prm2526?opendocument
For current bertha armyworm survey updates, refer to the following link:
http://ncrxeis4.agr.gc.ca/ppmnMaps/20050704_bertha_armyworm_pr.pdf
There have also been some reports of the painted lady (or thistle) butterfly larvae being mistaken for bertha armyworm. Painted lady larvae are similar in size, but dark purple to black in colour with long spines on each segment of the abdomen. They prefer Canada thistle, but will feed on canola foliage. There have been reports of some fields being sprayed to control the painted lady larvae. The general rule of thumb is that a field would need to have 25% defoliation to warrant an insecticide application. In some cases where the larvae have moved in from nearby Canada thistle patches, all that may be required is an edge treatment. In many cases, the larvae are near the end of their cycle, have run out of Canada thistle to feed on, and are moving into canola to pupate. Generally, they occur in small patches and insecticide control is rarely justified. For more information check the following link: http://www.canola-council.org/paintedlady.aspx.
Send 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.
Direct specific questions regarding regional issues to 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 & Rural Initiatives,
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
Matthew Stanford, Agronomist, Southern Alberta,
stanfordm@canola-council.org, 403-758-6660
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.