On this episode of The Agronomists we’ve brought in two guests who know all there is to know about the pesky pests that seem to inevitably find their way into your crops. We are talking about the infamous wireworm, flea beetles that can wreak havoc on canola crops, and cutworms that, let’s face it, are… Read More
Tag: Scott Meers
Wheat stem sawfly can cause a lot of damage to a wheat yield, and there aren’t a lot of options to control it. Enter: Bracon sephi, an orange wasp that is less than a quarter inch long. The way that this small wasp attacks wheat stem sawfly sounds like something out of science fiction, but… Read More
It’s another Monday, which means it’s time to tackle all things agronomy on RealAg Radio! On today’s show, you’ll hear: RealAgriculture’s resident agronomist Peter “Wheat Pete” Johnson, on the hot dry weather that eastern Canada is facing and the impact it has on wheat, soybeans, and corn ; Scott Meers of Mayland Ag Consulting, on… Read More
Early flowering can be a really good check point for canola crops. Scouting at early flower can be very instructive for what to expect further along in the season, and it’s a great opportunity to see what insects are out there or could develop into an issue later in the season. In this episode of… Read More
Wheat midge damage occurs regularly in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and southern British Columbia. This year in particular it will be important to scout for midge because the ideal conditions — delayed seeding and high moisture — create a high risk situation says Scott Meers, of Mayland Consulting in this episode of Wheat School. The upside… Read More
What’s bugging your crop? (See what we did there?) Scott Meers, independent agronomist and founder of Mayland Ag Consulting joins RealAg LIVE! host Shaun Haney for an informative and fun chat all about counting bugs. Well, not really. Also not all insects are bugs. Scott would want us to say that. Check out the video… Read More
It’s an exciting day — the first of three at FarmTech in Edmonton, Alta., and a special live recording of the show. In today’s episode, hear: Today’s top ag news with RealAgriculture’s Jessika Guse; Jerome Isaac, director with Alberta Pulse Growers, talks about FarmTech; Scott Meers, entomologist with Alberta Agriculture announces his retirement, and of… Read More
Every year is different when it comes to insect populations and pest management. Weather, varietal selection, and natural enemy numbers all impact pest development. This year, dry conditions in parts of the Prairies have a particular insect thriving. “The big, big one right now is grasshoppers,” says Scott Meers, Government of Alberta insect management specialist,… Read More
Some people are bean counters, but Scott Meers chose instead to be a bug counter. Now, let’s start off by saying that Meers, insect management specialist for Alberta Agriculture and Forestry, absolutely knows that not all insects are bugs. But when it comes to extension and making insect management accessible, Meers knows full well that… Read More
We’re nearly through the annual flight for bertha armyworm, and numbers are certainly concerning in some areas. If you’ve got canola headed in to podding, you need to scout — this nasty pest can cause a lot of damage in a short time. As canola moves past flowering and into podding, bertha armyworm will move from… Read More
Some pests like it dry, some like it warm, and some need it windy to get where they want to go. And sometimes insect pests can surprise you and not nearly be as bad as anticipated. That’s the story of the summer of 2018 — so far — according to Alberta Agriculture insect specialist, Scott Meers…. Read More
Every year the planning committee behind Edmonton’s renowned FarmTech conference recognizes someone who has made “an outstanding contribution to Alberta’s cropping industry.” This year’s award recipient is well-known to the agriculture community for his commitment to extension, people, and the industry he loves. Scott Meers graduated from the University of Alberta with a Bachelor’s Degree… Read More
With the cooler soil temperatures we’ve been seeing across Western Canada, unwanted pests are beginning to show up in some fields. Alberta Agriculture and Forestry Insect Management Specialist Scott Meers says that early on in the season we should be keeping our eyes out for stand establishment insects such as cutworms and wireworms. There have been a… Read More
Here’s a fun fact: not all weevils are pests. Unfortunately, as fun as that fact may be, the reality is several weevil species are damaging pests, and their range is expanding in Alberta. Alfalfa weevil, pea leaf weevil, and cabbage seedpod weevil have all shown an expanded range in the province, and, as Scott Meers,… Read More
Predicting insect outbreaks isn’t an easy task, as we learned from insect management specialist with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry, Scott Meers. Even small changes to what was expected from the weather can skew data. But, understanding forecasts and what impacts populations can certainly help farmers get a better idea of when and where to focus their scouting… Read More