An AI-driven insect app identifies pests and beneficials, maps field-level pressure and offers management advice. Its developers at the University of Saskatchewan seek Prairie farmers for winter beta testing.
Tag Archives crop pests
USask-led startup testing AI insect management app for Prairie growers
For beta testing, the developers are now seeking Prairie farmers to try it out
Canola’s least wanted
Experts discuss pests and pathogens canola growers will want to watch for in 2024
Flea beetles pose one of the greatest risks to yields for canola growers in Western Canada. A 2022 survey conducted on behalf of the Canola Council of Canada bore that out. Some 91 per cent of growers who participated in the survey identified flea beetles as the greatest economic risk to their crops. That’s likely […] Read more
Insects posing problems in Saskatchewan crops
Grasshopper, flea beetle damage already reported
MarketsFarm – Although it’s still early in the growing season, some insect pests have already posed a threat to crops in Saskatchewan or could do so in the near future, according to James Tansey, provincial specialist for insects/invertebrate pest management. Among the pests he cited were grasshoppers, flea beetles and pea leaf weevils. Tansey said […] Read more
Prairie insect pest outlook for 2023
Grasshoppers top the threat list but flea beetles, wheat midge, lygus bug, cutworms, bertha army worm and wheat stem sawfly are also risks in some areas
The Prairie Pest Monitoring Network (PPMN) warns grasshoppers could be a problem for producers in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta if hot, dry conditions during the growing season persist into 2023. The network’s annual grasshopper survey is conducted in late summer and early fall by estimating the density of adult insects, usually in ditches along cereal […] Read more
Consider variable costs when planning your rotation
Q & A with an expert
Q: What key financial decisions do I need to make about crop production and protection? A: Going into the 2023 growing season, you may be thinking, what are the key financial decisions I need to make around crop production and protection? This question is one of the most important every year for crop planning. There […] Read more
Successful pest protection and prevention programs
Given the right advice and a willingness to co-operate, Prairie growers can do a lot to mitigate or prevent crop yield losses
Pests of all kinds — weeds, animals, insects or diseases — would like to find a good home on your crop production acres. Prevention is by far the best method of pest control. If you can stop or prevent the pest from gaining a foothold on your acres, you are winning the battle. You do […] Read more
Crop advisor casebook: What’s causing bare patches in this soybean field?
A Crop Advisor's Solution from the July 13, 2021 issue of Grainews
Ralph is a farmer who grows soybeans along with wheat, canola and corn on 3,300 acres near Steinbach, Man. He was out scouting his soybeans one day in early June when he couldn’t help but notice a problem in one field. The crop appeared to be thriving with the glaring exception of a number of […] Read more
Tips to scout and identify crop pest grasshopper species
Flying before June, coloured hind wings and sings? It’s not eating your crops. Here’s how to identify the ones that are
It can be hard to distinguish between grasshopper species as many of them appear to look similar. And while they may look alike, only a few of them pose a threat to farmers. A typical Prairie system of pasture, cropland and roadside vegetation, for instance, might have 30 to 40 different species, but only four […] Read more
Your 2020 canola insect roundup
How big of a bite did pests take out of canola crops last year?
Mother Nature rarely gives an easy ride on the Prairie pest front. And 2020 was no exception, said James Tansey, Saskatchewan Agriculture’s provincial insect and vertebrate pest specialist, at Canola Council of Canada’s Canola Week 2020 held last December. Though some key canola pest species showed relatively low population densities in 2020, other pests caused […] Read more
Insect pests to watch for in 2021
Provincial experts discuss top pest threats for your region and offer tips for scouting
It’s easy for farmers to get “scouted out.” Between crop diseases, destructive crop insects and simply checking for yield and growth stage, scouting can be a full-time job in and of itself. Knowing what to focus on can help. Experts across the Prairies are weighing in on the most likely insect threats for the 2021 […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
