Canola field in bloom near Mervin, Sask on July 7, 2016. Crops are looking very good in northwest Sask.

Crops looking good, but fusarium risk is high

Weather conditions see many Saskatchewan farmers spraying fungicides

As crops in north-western Saskatchewan edge closer to maturity, Ian Weber is knocking on wood. “I’m at the point I don’t want to see bugs and hail would be really bad. Because I think we’ve got a monster coming in. Things look good,” said Weber, sales manager with Warrington AgroDynamic of Mervin. The Mervin-Turtleford area […] Read more

Pea root rot.

Researching root rot control in peas

Evaluating the benefits of seed treatments, soil amendments and soil tests

There’s still a lot to learn when it comes to managing root rot, especially aphanomyces. When are seed treatments most effective? Do soil amendments help? And can soil testing help farmers pick the best pea fields? Fortunately, research is underway to answer those very questions. Dr. Syama Chatterton, an Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) researcher […] Read more


Manage root rot before seeding

Saskatchewan plant disease specialist recommends good agronomy to reduce root rot

Lentil and pea growers struggling with root rot need to manage the disease before the seed is in the ground, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture’s plant disease specialist. Fusarium, pythium, and rhizoctonia are root rot pathogens long familiar to farmers. But aphanomyces is a relatively new problem, only detected in Saskatchewan in 2012. “It probably was […] Read more

Hope in sight to help protect peas from aphanomyces

NuFarm seed treatment will help protect seedling’s roots during early season growth

In early April, NuFarm announced that it had received emergency use registration of its INTEGO Solo seed treatment for suppression of Aphanomyces euteiches in field peas. INTEGO Solo (ethaboxam) is a Group 22 fungicide registered for pythium control and the suppression of seed rot caused by Phytophthora and aphanomyces. It had already been registered Canada-wide […] Read more


pea plants in stubble

Aphanomyces hurting pea yield for Sask. producer

After repeated aphanomyces problems, Bernie McLean 
is taking a break from growing peas

Bernie McClean usually has a positive outlook on everything. But after three years of dealing with aphanomyces, he’s taking a break from peas. “It’s just too risky. I can’t afford the risk,” says McClean over a cup of coffee at his farm, which sits between Glaslyn and Medstead in northwestern Saskatchewan. Up until two weeks […] Read more

root rot in a pea plant

Minimizing the impact of Aphanomyces

There are no in-crop solutions to root rot in peas and lentils. But there 
are ways to minimize your risk of losing yield to Aphanomyces

Given the wet springs and dry summers we’ve seen in recent years, Aphanomyces euteiches — Aphanomyces root rot — has become a real problem for pea and lentil growers. First confirmed in Saskatchewan in 2012 and then in Alberta in 2013, the disease has been slowly creeping across the country, destroying crops in its wake. Making […] Read more


Testing for aphanomyces

Discovery Seed Labs in Saskatoon offers DNA testing for aphanomyces. Farmers should send either soil or plant samples. “As soon as you start to notice symptoms, you can start pulling plants. And we can have a look at it and see what it is,” said Bruce Carriere, owner of Discovery. Carriere suggested sampling from areas […] Read more