In this issue:
(click the bookmarked links below to move to specific sections of this report)
Seeding delays continue in the eastern prairies
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
Seeding of canola continues to be delayed in the central, eastern and the Interlake regions of Manitoba by rain, wet fields and poor drying conditions. Some small pockets of seeding also remain in isolated areas of eastern Saskatchewan, along the Manitoba border.
Many unseeded fields in Manitoba and eastern Saskatchewan will likely be too wet to be seeded by the crop insurance deadline of June 20. It is estimated that up to 1.5 million acres remain unseeded in Manitoba due to the wet conditions. Some growers are even considering leaving the volunteer canola from last year’s canola crops for this year. Manitoba Agriculture is working on an information strategy for managing unseeded acres, which will be announced as soon as possible.
The continued delay in seeding progress due to wet weather in Manitoba has led some growers to use broadcast seeding. In general, broadcast seeding is not recommended, because broadcast seeding usually results in lower yields compared to drill seeding. However, producers faced with wet conditions that limit equipment flotation plus the risk of fall frost may wish to consider broadcast seeding in order to plant their seed in a more timely fashion. For a further discussion on tips for enhancing success of broadcast seeding, refer to last week’s Canola Watch report at: http://www.canola-council.org/seed/canola-watch/watch05-jun8.shtml
Soil moisture conditions across western Canada range from fair to excess. Most areas received at least some precipitation over the past week, but many areas in Manitoba, pockets of Saskatchewan, and parts of southern Alberta received heavier rains which caused more flooding damage. Most of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and southwestern Alberta have good to excess moisture but moisture conditions remain fair in parts of central Alberta and the north Peace.
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/crprpt050612.pdf
Additional moisture information for Alberta is available from Alberta Environment at: http://www3.gov.ab.ca/env/water/ws/data/precipmaps/precipmaps.html
Crop development ranges from just emerging for late seeded fields to the full rosette stage-early bolting for early seeded fields. Overall, emergence throughout western Canada is reported to be the best in years. Favorable soil moisture in most areas, combined with decent temperatures have led to crop development close to average in many areas for this time of year. However, the excess moisture received in many areas over the past couple of weeks has lead to concerns regarding continued crop growth and development. Excess moisture often causes changes in plant colour and growth, caused by the lack of oxygen in the root zone. The degree of damage will depend on several factors including crop stage, soil type and texture and time spent under water. Growers concerned about the nutrient status of recently wet and flooded crops who are considering tissue testing need to remember to allow for the plant to recover and growth to stabilize before tissue testing. For further information regarding the effects of excess moisture on canola growth, refer to the following link: http://www.canola-council.org/excessmoisture.aspx
Weed growth continues in most areas, and is becoming heavy due to warmer temperatures, good moisture, and the lack of pre-emergent burn-off applications in some cases. Spraying delays due to rains and wet fields continue compounding the problem in many areas. In addition, variable crop emergence especially in later seeded or re-seeded crops in formerly dry areas of southern Alberta has lead to challenges regarding assessing the proper time for herbicide application. Frequent scouting remains important to assess the number and types of weeds present as well as their growth stage. Ensure the right rate and product(s) are used to control the required weed spectrum. Also, in areas affected by extreme weather (either very wet or dry conditions) ensure that the herbicide rate chosen is appropriate to allow good crop tolerance and adequate control of target weeds. In addition, although growers may be pressed for time due to spraying delays, they should not forget proper handling techniques including proper sprayer cleanout protocols when changing chemicals as well as wearing proper protective clothing.
For more information on current product recommendations, check the following links from the provincial governments for their respective Crop Protection Guides:
http://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/crops/cropproduction/gaa01d01.html
http://www.agr.gov.sk.ca/DOCS/crops/cropguide00.asp
http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/agdex32?opendocument
The excess moisture in some regions will likely lead to substantial nitrogen losses in low-lying areas. If the excess water recedes fairly quickly and the crop recovers, growers may need to consider top dressing additional nitrogen to compensate. As well, growers who were conservative with their initial fertilizer applications for this crop and now find favorable to excellent growing conditions may also consider topping up their nitrogen and sulphur rates by top dressing. Be prepared to conduct crop tissue testing at the appropriate stage and remember that topdressing N and S fertilizer is possible up to the bolting stage--as long as rainfall occurs to move the fertilizer into the root zone. This helps alleviate any deficiencies and/or ensures optimum yields if sub-optimal fertilizer rates were applied prior to and/or at seeding, or if losses occurred due to wet and saturated soils. Also, ensure rates and field conditions are appropriate to minimize any detrimental effects to the crop, such as leaf burn.
Cutworms continue to be a problem in parts of Saskatchewan including near Waldheim. Refer to the May 5, 2004 Canola Watch report for more background information on cutworms: http://www.canola-council.org/seed/canola-watch/watch-may5.html
Flea beetle pressure is lower this week, but some pressure continues in mostly later seeded fields, as well as fields seeded with common seed without an insecticide seed treatment. Severe damage was noted in a field near Paradise Valley, Alberta. Frequent scouting is important to properly assess damage. Remember the damage threshold for action is 25% leaf defoliation in order to determine whether spraying is warranted.
Diamondback moth larvae continue to be found in western Manitoba, western Saskatchewan between Delmas and Marshall, and many areas of Alberta including Lethbridge, Rockyford, Paradise Valley, St. Paul, Bonnyville, Westlock, Barrhead, Stony Plain and Wetaskiwin. Feeding damage has been noted to be heavy in some fields, with some spraying occurring.
Spraying at early crop stages is unlikely to be warranted unless the larval populations and feeding damage are noticeably heavy and the crop is under stress and is having difficulty outgrowing the damage. In early crop stages, a proposed action threshold of 25-33% defoliation with continued larval feeding has been proposed by John Gavloski from MAFRI. However, in later vegetative stages prior to budding, it is likely that the action threshold can be higher, due to the fact that the crop vegetative growth is rapid at this stage, and in most cases, the crop will likely outgrow any appreciable damage. However, if larval feeding continues into the bud stage, with damage to early buds, then spraying is more likely warranted.
Click on to the following link for an example of bud damage from diamondback larval feeding (from Ward Toma, ACPC): http://www.canola-council.org/images_insects.html
Growers should use caution before spraying for diamondbacks at this early stage because spraying is likely to destroy beneficial parasitoids, which help in reducing damage from subsequent generations.
For current diamondback moth survey updates, refer to the following links:
http://ncrxeis4.agr.gc.ca/ppmnMaps/
http://ncrxeis4.agr.gc.ca/ppmnMaps/20050614_diamondback_moth_pr.pdf
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
Grasshoppers continue to increase in many areas of north-central Alberta including Stony Plain, Barrhead and Smoky Lake. Damage to this point has been mostly on forage grasses and cereals, but may increase in canola as populations build. For links to 2005 forecast maps for grasshoppers, refer to the following provincial ag department links:
http://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/crops/insects/forecast/grasshopper_map.html
http://www.agr.gov.sk.ca/DOCS/crops/integrated_pest_management/insects/images/hoppermap2005.jpg
http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/prm9802
Alberta Reduced Tillage Linkages is organizing a Direct Seeding Canola Field Day for next Tuesday, June 21 at Tofield, AB. For further details, refer to the following link: http://www.reducedtillage.ca
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.