In this issue:
(click the bookmarked links below to move to specific sections of this report)
Soil moisture conditions vary widely
Early seeded canola already podding
Check for stressed canola after hail
Second generation of Diamondback larvae emerging
Scout now for lygus bugs
Cabbage seedpod weevil control wrapping up
Bertha armyworm trapping close to complete
Painted lady butterfly larvae moving into canola
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. Most areas received scattered showers with accumulations of less than an inch of rainfall. However, areas in central Saskatchewan and the Peace region received higher amounts ranging from two to four inches. Some areas which had excessive moisture in Manitoba received good drying conditions over the last week, resulting in some signs of recovery in the remaining crop. Soil moisture in most other areas of western Canada is still good. However, there are some areas in southwestern Saskatchewan, southern 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/crprpt050724.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 mid to late flower for late seeded canola fields to end of bloom and early pod filling for early seeded fields. Most fields are at 75 to 95% 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.
Hail was reported in pockets of southern and central Alberta. In fields that are not completely destroyed, hail damage can 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
Diamondback moth larval activity has started to increase in some areas over the past week. All growth stages can now be found in many fields, as the next generation of adult moths has emerged and deposited eggs that are now hatching into small larvae. Throughout the prairies there have been isolated reports of fields being sprayed for larvae. In southern Alberta and central Peace region, larvae have been reaching numbers of 3-12/plant. 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 reached. If you are sweeping for other insects, such as lygus bugs and do catch larvae in the net, use it as a precursor to examining individual plants for accurate numbers of larvae/m2 that can be used towards your risk assessment. 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 link:
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
As the crop nears the end of flowering, it is a good time to scout fields for lygus bugs. Adult lygus are pale green to reddish brown/ to black, with a “V” mark one-third of the way down their back. Young nymphs are pale green in colour and resemble aphids, but with five small black dots on their backs and no cornicles. Lygus cause damage by feeding on leaves, stems, flowers and pods resulting in flower blasting and shrivelled seeds. The economic thresholds are about 15 lygus per 10 sweeps at the end of flowering, increasing to 20 per 10 sweeps as the crop approaches pod ripening. For more information on lygus bugs, including a more detailed threshold table, refer to the following link:
http://www.canola-council.org/lygusbugs.aspx
Fields that have been sprayed in southern Alberta for cabbage seedpod weevil seem to be staying free of the canola pest. However, continue to scout with a sweep net to ensure that numbers do not rise above the threshold of three to four per sweep as the next generation emerges. 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 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. To avoid misdiagnosing bertha armyworm larvae, remember that they will just be starting to emerge and will be very small in these early stages of development. If you are finding larvae that are close to an inch long or larger, keep in mind that clover cutworms, alfalfa loopers and painted lady butterfly larvae can resemble bertha armyworm larvae and are more than likely to be that size right now.
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/20050720_bertha_armyworm_pr.pdf
There continue to be reports of the painted lady (or thistle) butterfly larvae. Painted lady larvae can be an inch or more long, and are 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 or spot 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. However, if you are considering applying an insecticide, scout your fields carefully. It’s probable at this time that the larvae have pupated or viral diseases are starting to attack the population. In many areas there is a good chance that the window for economical control has been missed. 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.