In recent years, wheat midge has caused yield losses to fields across the prairie provinces, and has been blamed for wheat quality losses as well, including: aborted kernels, feeding lines and bran rupturing. So we know wheat midge is a significant pest, but did you have any idea that once anthers are present, the plant is no… Read More
Category: Pests
While the name suggests it’s a pest of bean crops, the western bean cutworm isn’t the most discerning of pests — corn will do just fine, thank you very much. Since 2008, western bean cutworm has been on Ontario’s radar, as pest numbers are building and farmers may need to spray to control this pest… Read More
Soybean aphids don’t always cause a problem thanks, in part, to effective control products. But aphid numbers are cyclical despite good control and additional control is sometimes needed. That said, the pest can be kept in check with high populations of beneficial insects present, making scouting and re-scouting a critical means of protecting the soybean… Read More
Ascochyta blight is a disease caused by three species of fungi, which are very difficult, if not impossible, to differentiate in the field. Fortunately, diagnosis of a specific pathogen causing ascochyta symptoms is not usually necessary, as control measures are very often the same. Out scouting? Look for purple-brown lesions on the stem, tendrils and… Read More
Manitoba has the not-so-great distinction of being the fusarium hot spot of the Canadian Prairies. This year, ample moisture and recent heat have combined to create a high-humidity soup pot of fusarium head blight growth and spread. Farmers in other provinces need to be on the look out as well, as the disease spreads west…. Read More
Guessing per cent bloom of a canola field from the field margin is a fantastic game to play for fun, but when it comes to sclerotinia control, if you’re off even by 10% it could mean you miss the critical period for protecting petals. With warm to hot temps rolling across the Prairies, crops are… Read More
In a move that’s sure to make manufacturers of organic pesticides very happy, the Manitoba government has announced its plan to introduce legislation that will ban the use of non-organic pesticides for lawns and common areas of the province. Citing health concerns for pets and children, the government plans to begin to ban the sale… Read More
Fusarium head blight, or tombstone blight, is slowly moving west, and growers in regions not traditionally accustomed to fusarium are beginning to see premature bleaching/blighting of wheat heads and shriveled seeds caused by the pathogen. Fusarium doesn’t just affect the grade and yield of a wheat field, it may also contaminate wheat kernels with mycotoxins… Read More
Damage from soybean cyst nematode can be minor, but once this pest is established in a field, it’s there for good. Since being confirmed in Ontario about 15 years ago, the nematode moved throughout much of the soybean growing region. Knowing the nematode pressure level in your fields is essential to minimizing damage through the… Read More
Rust in cereals, and especially stripe rust, is a disease that it can be easy to allow to drop off the radar. After all, the spores are carried by wind and may not reach your growing region in time to really cause an issue. What’s more, decent varietal resistance exists for many races of rust,… Read More
This spring I listened in on the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture’s Alfalfa Weevil Webinar. I assume I’m not the only farmer out there who had little knowledge of the alfalfa weevil before the webinar, let alone any idea of how much of a problem it is becoming. Let’s just say that if you have yet… Read More
It’s that time of year where we transition from killing weeds to protecting our crops from diseases. Growing conditions across much of Western Canada have been good, with adequate moisture (to too much moisture!) and warm temperatures; this is excellent for the crops, but also creates a conducive environment for diseases to thrive. Scouting: As… Read More
Yeah, I am a bit of a nerd, but who wouldn’t be terribly excited to be a part of the Alberta Pest Monitoring Network (APMN)? Setting up the bertha armyworm pheromone traps last week required battling the mosquito cavalry, but the mozzies were no match for my baggy sweater and good help. The traps were… Read More
With a tight spray window and lots of ground to cover, farmers are always on the hunt for ways to cover more acres in a day. In a pinch, many will simply go faster, and, while that does work, it’s not without increased risks or potential reduced product efficacy. Instead, Tom Wolf, sprayer specialist and… Read More
Syngenta Canada Inc. announced that Astound canola fungicide has been granted registration by the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) for an extended application window. As a result, growers can now apply Astound from 20 to 50 percent canola bloom, allowing for extended control of yield-robbing sclerotinia stem rot. Eric Phillips, product lead for fungicides and… Read More