In this issue:
(click the bookmarked links below to move to specific sections of this report)
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 range from fair to excess. Most areas received more precipitation over the past week, but many areas in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and central and southern Alberta received heavy rains which caused more flooding damage. Most of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta have good to excess moisture. Many areas report localized flooding of crop especially in potholes and other low-lying areas from the heavy rains. The only pockets reporting below normal soil moisture are in the Peace near Girouxville, AB and north of Rolla, BC.
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/crprpt050619.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 cotyledon to 2 leaf stage for late seeded fields to the bolting-early flower stage 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, continuing rains in many areas are causing stress from excess moisture which is hampering 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 heavy in many areas due to warm temperatures, good moisture, and the lack of pre-emergent burn-off applications in some cases. Continued spraying delays due to rains and wet fields are compounding the problem in many areas. Some fields are in danger of missing herbicide application due to the combination of poor spraying conditions, wet fields and advanced crop development. There have also been reports of poor control of volunteer canola in cereals, mostly due to the poor performance of the applied broadleaf product at the advanced volunteer canola stage.
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, ensure that the herbicide rate chosen is appropriate to allow good crop tolerance and adequate control of target weeds. In addition, growers who may be pressed for time due to spraying delays 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 Manitoba near Portage. 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.shtml
Flea beetle pressure is lower again this week, but some pressure continues in mostly later seeded fields, as well as fields seeded with common seed without an insecticide seed treatment. 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 many parts of western Saskatchewan and many areas of Alberta and parts of Manitoba. Feeding damage has been noted to be heavy near Herschel and Marshall SK, 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. Reports from Dr. Lloyd Dosdall, Entomologist from the University of Alberta, indicate parasitoid activity on diamondbacks in Alberta.
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
For a picture of a parasitoid wasp of diamondback, refer to the following link:
http://www.canola-council.org/parasiticwaspsid.aspx
Grasshoppers continue to increase in areas of north-central Alberta including Smoky Lake, Vilna and Elk Point and the BC Peace north of Rolla. 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
Cabbage seedpod weevils have been reported to be quite heavy (5-8 per sweep) in initial sweeps of bolting canola near Lethbridge, AB. Growers should be vigilant for the presence and levels of weevils throughout southern Alberta (south of Hwy. 1) at this point and be prepared to spray if populations remain high at early flower. Begin scouting fields at the bud stage with a sweep net to check for levels of both cabbage seedpod weevil and lygus bugs. The current threshold for cabbage seedpod weevils is three to four per sweep at early flowering.
For more information on cabbage seedpod weevils, refer to the following links:
http://www.canola-council.org/csweevil.aspx
http://www.agr.gov.sk.ca/docs/crops/integrated_pest_management/insects/cabbageweevil.asp?
firstPick=Crops&secondpick=Integrated%20Pest%20Management&thirdpick=Insects
http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/faq7100
The high levels of soil moisture in most areas have greatly increased the potential for the development of sclerotinia. High soil moisture levels combined with warm temperatures and crops at full ground cover are prime candidates for the development of sclerotinia. Begin scouting for the presence of apothecia in canola fields and in neighboring fields and be prepared for control measures if crop and growing conditions remain conducive to disease development.
For more information on forecasting and scouting for sclerotinia, refer to the following links:
http://www.canola-council.org/sclerotiniaforecast.aspx
http://www.canola-council.org/sclerotiniacycle.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.