Farmers in most areas of Saskatchewan need to be aware of wheat midge, says Scott Hartley, Saskatchewan’s provincial specialist for insect pest management. Specifically, eastern Saskatchewan, primarily east central and southeast. There’s another section from Prince Albert south, “extending quite a ways, at least down to close to Bethune.” Midge threats in Alberta aren’t as high, but are more pronounced east of Edmonton and in the Peace region. However, Alberta […] Read more
Tag Archives crop insects
Protect yourself against wheat midge
Wheat midge may be on the rise this year, especially in southeastern Saskatchewan
Be on your guard for grasshoppers
Grasshopper numbers are up in Alberta. Warm dry weather will give them an edge
Grasshoppers were found in higher numbers in 2015 in Alberta. Unfortunately, the same is expected for 2016, says Scott Meers, Alberta Agriculture insect management specialist. The Peace region, the extreme north and northwest areas of Alberta, are expected to have high grasshopper numbers. Farmers west of Edmonton also saw high populations last year and the […] Read more
Coping with the cabbage seedpod weevil
Our mild winter may have been beneficial for the cabbage seedpod weevil
Cabbage seedpod weevils are a perennial problem for canola and mustard growers in southern Alberta. Their range has expanded up to the northern and south central parts of the province in the last couple of years and, says Scott Meers, Alberta Agriculture and Forestry insect management specialist. “Saskatchewan has economic infestations as far as east […] Read more
Keep a watchful eye for pea leaf weevil
Be ready to scout your fields. This pest is headed north
There’s a new pest heading north in Alberta and it’s eersoving fast. Although a regular in southern Alberta and southern Saskatchewan, the pea leaf weevil has now been sighted as far north as Athabasca, Alberta. “There’s been a real range expansion,” says Scott Meers, insect management specialist with Alberta Agriculture. “It’s a concerning issue for […] Read more
Rainfall relieves some dry areas of Sask., but more needed for crops to fill out
Saskatchewan Crop Report for the week ending July 13
Livestock producers now have 32 per cent of the hay crop cut and 38 per cent baled or put into silage, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture’s weekly Crop Report. Hay quality is rated as four per cent excellent, 48 per cent good, 34 per cent fair and 14 per cent poor. Concerns about a potential hay […] Read more
Manitoba crop insect and disease update
Conditions as of July 7, 2015
Some localized higher populations of armyworms and grasshoppers are present. Scouting is encouraged, although in many cases populations are noticeable but not economical as of yet. Armyworms in cereal crops are present in noticeable levels in many areas of Central Manitoba. Larvae can be scouted for by counting the number of larvae per square foot on average. The majority of larvae will be on the ground during the day and often hidden […] Read more
Haying continues in Sask., but crops limited in growth due to lack of rain
Saskatchewan Crop Report for the week ending July 6
Haying continues in much of the province despite limited plant growth due to the shortfall in precipitation. Livestock producers now have 24 per cent of the hay crop cut and 15 per cent baled or put into silage, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture’s weekly Crop Report. Hay quality is currently rated as four per cent excellent, […] Read more
Timing your insecticide application for flea beetles
Get out and scout your fields early to look for defoliation and bite holes
All things being equal, you want to come out of the season with as much of the plant stand you came in with. However, heavy flea beetle pressure during the cotyledon to the first or second true-leaf stage can take a big bite out your final yield. The secret to success in dealing with flea […] Read more
Lack of crop growth may be due to an insect, not a seeder miss
When you’re checking for pests, this insect’s wily ways could give you the slip
For Scott Hartley, an insect pest management specialist at the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture, it’s an all-too-familiar story. A producer notices areas in the field where growth is slow, plants are dying back or missing altogether. The damage is often put down to a seeder miss or poor germination, poor nutrition or environmental conditions, or […] Read more
Detecting wireworms on your farm
Using bait can help you get a better estimate of the scope of your wireworm problem. Making a bait ball For one ball: Mix one to 1-1/2 cups of oatmeal or wheat flour with two tablespoons of honey and up to 1/2 cup of water to form a ball Tie up ball in a mesh […] Read more
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