A: As the long winter on the Prairies comes to an end, growers are starting to prepare for the 2023 growing season. With weather delays, many growers may be eager to get seeding and skip the pre-seed herbicide application. However, utilizing a pre-seed burnoff is a great way to start your crop in the right direction. 

With drought being the main story of the 2022 crop year, it is important to apply a pre-seed burnoff to help conserve moisture by controlling any over-wintering, perennial and annual weeds. 

Weed competition is one of the greatest threats to the newly emerging crop as it fights for moisture, nutrients and sunlight to survive. A pre-seed burnoff helps eliminate any of this early season competition, allowing your crop to get a head start and choke out any weeds that may come later. 

It is important to scout fields carefully for weeds in the spring, as there may not appear to be any at first glance, but upon closer inspection you may find tiny weeds just emerging. These are the ones we want to control. If there are no weeds present at the time you want to spray, a residual herbicide application can help mitigate the risk of weeds coming later when the crop is just emerging. 

When heading out to the field with that first chemical application of the season, we want to make sure we are making the most out of our time and money. Scouting the field and identifying which weeds are present is key to selecting the best chemistries to target those pests. 

With herbicide-resistant weeds, such as Group 9-resistant kochia, being a predominant concern across the Prairies, we need to be tank mixing multiple modes of action with our glyphosate. Using more than one mode of action along with rotating modes of action in your fields will help fight resistant weeds. 

There are other aspects of a herbicide application that make it successful including herbicide rate, water volume and time of application. Always follow the label instructions and apply the correct herbicide rates. Use sufficient water volumes to get good coverage when trying to control small newly emerged weed seedlings. The addition of a surfactant can help with good coverage and penetration of chemical into the weed. Try to spray during warm days as much as possible and avoid spraying right after a frost.

– Lane Blanke, B.Sc., PAg, CCA, is a manager of agronomic solutions for southwest Saskatchewan with Nutrien Ag Solutions. 

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A: The anthracnose pathogen in lentils has been a problem for producers in southern Saskatchewan and other lentil-producing areas. Even with the dry growing conditions in regions of southern Saskatchewan, the disease seems to appear after only minimal rainfall. 

Anthracnose is a fungal disease caused by the pathogen, Colletotrichum lentis. The foliar disease can affect all plant parts, resulting in premature leaf drop, yield loss and plant death. The symptoms usually start at the 10-12 node stage or early flower and first appear on lower leaflets and stems. The disease appears as sunken-in grey- to cream-colored lesions with pin-shaped black microsclerotia present on stem lesions. The lesions progress up the plant canopy infecting large areas of the crop. When infection is severe, stem girdling will restrict nutrient and moisture movement up the stem, causing plant death. Anthracnose is a polycyclic disease, meaning it can have multiple life cycles in one year, which makes it hard to control and allows the disease to spread quickly in the field. 

While anthracnose has been a problem, there are actions you can take to help prevent it. The anthracnose pathogen will overwinter in fields as microsclerotia on infected crop residue. From there it will reinfect the crop mainly through rain splash or wind. Therefore, having a strong crop rotation that gives at least three years in between lentil crops is one of the best methods to combat anthracnose. Rotating out of pulses into non-host crops such as cereals and oilseeds is the preferred option to reduce the inoculum present in the field. 

Additionally, scouting and monitoring fields are important practices producers should implement to prevent the infection and spread of anthracnose. The anthracnose pathogen, like other foliar diseases, favours wet and humid conditions. Producers need to take note of long-range weather forecasts as well as the crop’s microclimate conditions.

If the crop is staying wet in the canopy and there is rain and high humidity in the forecast, the risk of anthracnose is high and a fungicide application may be necessary. 

Producers can turn to fungicides to help prevent and control the spread of anthracnose in their fields. This is a great option, but farmers need to be aware of the resistance risk anthracnose poses to some fungicide groups. Research and surveys done in many lentil-producing areas, especially southern Saskatchewan, have shown anthracnose resistance to Group 11 strobilurin fungicides.

When choosing fungicides, producers must select products with multiple modes of action. Using only Group 11 products may not work to control the disease and can lead to further resistance development. Using combination products that have Group 11 combined with a Group 3 or Group 7 mode of action will provide much better control and mitigate the risk of resistance development.

– Lane Blanke, B.Sc., PAg, CCA, is a manager of agronomic services for Nutrien Ag Solutions in Swift Current, Sask. 

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A: Seeding can be a stressful time of year for many growers. It is the most important operation on any farm, as it can dictate how the entire year will turn out. It’s important for growers to make sound agronomic decisions at the time of seeding to ensure their crop has the best start possible.

For cereal producers, one of the biggest threats to cereal seedlings is disease.

The first step in reducing seedling disease is to use clean seed that is free of any pathogens. Growers can do this by either purchasing certified seed or by testing their own at an accredited lab. Getting seed tested is an easy and inexpensive way to ensure it does not contain any pathogens.

Many growers send samples away for a germination and vigour test; however, it is important to do a full fungal screening as well. Planting infected seed can result in widespread distribution of disease within the crop and allows for an increased number of infection sites. Planting seed that is free of disease is also a way of limiting the introduction of new pathogens into a field. This is especially true when looking at the spread of seed-borne diseases such as Fusarium graminearum.

The use of seed treatments is a great insurance policy that will protect seed against early-season root rots and blight caused by cold and wet soil conditions. Treating seed with a fungicide can prevent any potential pathogen from entering the seed and damaging the seedling — and will provide two weeks or longer protection once the seeds are in the ground.

Most seed treatments on the market will also protect against later-season diseases including smuts and bunt. Many seed treatments include insecticides, which help inhibit insects from feeding on newly germinated seedlings. Any spots on the seedlings where insects chew is an opening for disease to form, and spending the extra money on treatments with a combination of fungicide and insecticide can be very beneficial. When treating seed, aim to achieve uniform coverage on all seeds and make sure to use the recommended rate of application to achieve the best results.

Crop rotation is another method to decrease the risk of seedling disease. By extending crop rotation, growers can reduce the amount of pest population in the soil. Some pathogens can survive in the soil or on crop residues from year to year in the form of sclerotia, spores or hyphae.

Continuous cropping can build up these pathogen levels to an unmanageable level. It is important to rotate out of host crops to reduce the inoculum in the soil. Saying this, some pathogens such as Rhizoctonia and Pythium species have such a wide host range they are very hard to control, even with proper rotation. Therefore, disease control needs a broad-spectrum approach and management plan.

Disease management can be a challenge, but taking the right steps early on, with clean seed, getting the extra layer of protection from seed treatments and considering crop rotation, growers can get ahead of and prevent diseases in their crops.

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A: Recently, there has been more discussion around straight cutting and harvest management of canola. New advancements in genetics that increase the integrity of the pod and greater focus on selecting hybrids that have characteristics that make them more suitable to a straight cut situation have improved the options. There have also been some advancements in desiccation technology.

These developments increase the opportunity for converting some of your farm acres to straight cut; however, if you are a follower of farmer discussions online you will see there are many successes and challenges that come with changing your management practices to suit a straight cut option.

Assess your fields

Some fields are more suitable for straight cut than others, and the weather will still dictate if it is a good decision to hold a field for straight cutting or swath now. If straight cutting is an option you are consider- ing, select your seed with that in mind. Look for hybrids that have all the attributes that suit your operation (maturity, disease resistance, stand- ability, tight canopy and straight cut research).Stage out the maturities so you have an opportunity to get across all your acres at an optimal time and be prepared to swath if the growing season dictates it. Hybrids with enhanced straight cut traits and attributes still need to be well managed at harvest to avoid yield or grade losses.

Desiccation can solve some field variability and green weed material issues. Swathing is a form of desiccation as it immediately cuts the plant off from its source of moisture. In-crop desiccants are also an option and need to be matched according to the field situation. Perennial weed problems may necessitate a herbicide versus a true desiccant. The results will be different among these options as should the expectations. Frost is also a desiccant and can lead to immediate requirements for some fast changes in plans when it comes to harvesting canola.

If you are planning to move more acres to straight cut, start with your weed control and seed decision, monitor the field and make your final cutting decision at the same time you would traditionally be starting to assess the field for swathing. Frost, late rains and wind can all change plans, and swathing or straight cutting earlier than expected may be the best decision to maximize your yield.

Lane Blanke, B.Sc., PAg, CCA, is a manager of agronomic services for Nutrien Ag Solutions in Swift Current, Sask.

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A: The pea leaf weevil, an invasive species, has caused notable damage and yield loss in pulse crops across the Prairies. Identifying and managing the pea leaf weevil early in the growing season is key to minimizing damage and protecting your yield potential.

Adults overwinter in shelterbelts, field edges and perennial legume fields, such as alfalfa. The adults emerge in early to mid-May when temperatures begin to warm up. They then migrate to host crops — field pea and fababean fields — to start feeding and mating. When the eggs hatch, the emerged larvae will bury into the soil and feed on the root nodules, creating an inability for the plant to fix nitrogen. The larvae will continue to feed until they mature into adults and then feed on above-ground foliage, eventually finding sites to overwinter again.

When scouting for the weevil, it’s important to start looking early in the season, as newly emerged peas are the most vulnerable to damage. Begin at field edges and work your way into the field. Typical damage includes “c”-shaped notches in the leaves. Note any damage to the clam leaves on the pea plants. These are the leaves you want to protect. It is also a good idea to dig up the plants and look for any larvae or feeding damage to the root nodules.

Economic threshold is when 30 per cent of seedlings in the field have damaged clam leaves. Once peas are at the sixth-node stage, the weevil is no longer a concern, as the peas will produce new foliage faster than the weevil can eat.

Controlling pea leaf weevil is mostly done using registered seed treatments and foliar insecticides. Early seeding and the use of trap crops on field edges can help reduce weevil feeding. Maintaining a proper crop rotation within an affected area can also be a good practice. And, having proper fertility and inoculation will lessen weevil damage. Strong, vigorous plants can better withstand weevil attack.

– Lane Blanke, BSc, PAg, CCA, is a manager of agronomic services for Nutrien Ag Solutions in southwest Saskatchewan.

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A. In an era of high input costs, unpredictable weather conditions and volatile grain markets, farmers face many challenges even before they get the crop in the ground. Getting seed tested is an easy and inexpensive way to help ensure a healthy crop stand.

While testing seed for germination is a common practice for many farmers, seed testing for pathogens is not.

In wheat and barley, tests for seed-borne fusarium are a must. In Saskatchewan, if fusarium graminearum is not yet established in the area, seedlots with greater than five per cent infected seed should not be used. In areas where fusarium is already established, seed with up to 10 per cent fusarium may be used, provided other seed-borne pathogens are low. In Alberta, best management practices recommend only using seed with no detectable level of fusarium graminearum. An effective seed treatment is always recommended as an additional measure of control.

Testing seed for pathogens involved in seed rots, seedling blight, common root rot and black point is becoming more common. Do not use seed with a high level of infection.

Another important pathogen to test for in wheat and barley is loose smut. Loose smut is not soil-borne which means testing the seed is crucial.

When it comes to pulse crops, seed should be tested for mechanical damage and pathogen screening. Be aware of pathogen levels to prevent spreading disease to new areas of the farm. The most common diseases to look for are ascochyta and mycosphaerella. Other diseases that may be of concern are anthracnose, botrytis and, in some areas, stemphylium blight.

When dealing with infected pulse seed, ultimately, germination and vigour may be the deciding factor on using the seed.

Lane Blanke, B.S.c, CCA, AAg, is a manager of agronomic services for Nutrien Ag Solutions in southwest Saskatchewan.

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