crop pests Archives - Page 5 of 9

Midge scouting in canola

By Doug Fehr May 2, 2017

Scouting is an important component of management. If you don’t know what’s in your field, you can’t evaluate what control measures to use. Yearly scouting is needed to assess what pests exist in fields, as populations don’t always remain constant. For example, in 2016 there were higher counts of cutworm but lower incidence of Bertha […] Read more

Mark’s problem area was located in the north 30 acres of an 80-acre field. In the affected area, only one plant was present per 15 feet of row on average. Neighbouring corn and canola fields were healthy.

Crops, Features, Soybeans

Crop Advisor’s Casebook: Planter problems or pesky pests?

A Crop Advisor's Solution from the January 24, 2017 issue of Grainews

By Terry Moyer April 27, 2017

Three weeks after planting, I was called out to Mark’s 1,500-acre farm, located south east of Winnipeg, Man., where he grows soybeans, canola and spring and winter wheat. Mark wanted to know why an area of his soybean plant stand was so thin. The thin plant stand was located in the north 30 acres of […] Read more

Cabbage seedpod weevils are attracted to the buds on early canola plants. They feed on the buds, migrating as the crop comes into bloom.

Canola, Crops

When to spray cabbage seedpod weevil

If you have to spray for the cabbage seedpod  weevil, get the timing right

By Melanie Epp March 21, 2017

The first time Alberta grain farmer Jay Schultz remembers hearing about cabbage seedpod weevil was in 2005 at the University of Alberta when Dr. Lloyd Dosdall warned that it could become a major pest in the province. Schultz, who farms 6,000 acres near Standard, Alta., said that he never really paid attention, that is, until […] Read more

Cereals, Crops, Wheat & Chaff

Keep your cereal stand one step ahead of wireworms

By Mark Mercier March 21, 2017

Wireworms can quickly weave a destructive path through your cereal stand. Knowing what symptoms to look for can help you identify and take steps to protect your crop from this destructive pest. You might start off by seeing bare patches that can be small, one or two-metre gaps, or larger areas where you have thin […] Read more

Cereals, Crops, Features

Wireworm: hard to control and on the rise

Without Lindane, there’s very little that cereal growers can do to control this pest

By Dilia Narduzzi February 27, 2017

Wireworms ruin many cereal crops, and they’ve been on the rise since the federal government banned lindane for use as a pesticide in 2004. Lindane killed the bugs outright says Dr. Bob Vernon, a research scientist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), and since its banning “there is really nothing that will kill them.” “Wireworms […] Read more

A bertha armyworm gets its fill on a canola seed pod.

Crops, Wheat & Chaff

Controlling bugs with seed treatments

By Kristin Hacault November 8, 2016

Technology has given western Canadian farmers access to a wide range of options when it comes to insect control in canola. Crucifer and striped flea beetles, wireworm, cutworm, root maggot, cabbage seedpod weevil, bertha armyworm and diamondback moth are just some insect pests that can be particularly problematic for both crop health and farmers’ bottom […] Read more

The severity of wheat midge this season will depend on the weather.

Cereals, Crops, Features

Protect yourself against wheat midge

Wheat midge may be on the rise this year, especially in southeastern Saskatchewan

By Dilia Narduzzi June 6, 2016

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

Crops, Features, Potatoes

Watch for wireworms in potatoes

If wireworm is not on Prairie potato growers' radar yet, it will be in the near future

By Julienne Isaacs June 3, 2016

According to Bob Vernon, a research scientist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in Agassiz, B.C., since the organophochlorine pesticide Lindane was banned in Canada in 2004, followed by the organophosphate insecticide Thimet last year, populations of wireworm have been slowing in some areas and “booming” in others. Vernon was in Brandon, Man., to present a […] Read more

Crop emergence has generally been good in the northwest, local ag retailers report.

Crops, Weather

Guenther: Sask. farmers near end of seeding, optimism abounds

Saskatchewan Crop Report rates crops as good to excellent overall

By Lisa Guenther June 2, 2016

As Saskatchewan farmers wrap up the last bit of seeding, there’s abundant optimism for this year’s crop. “Our moisture conditions are good right now,” said Dave Shepherd, location manager for AgriTeam in Glaslyn, in north-western Saskatchewan. The crops, he added, are “looking really good.” West of Glaslyn, things are progressing nicely, said Ian Weber, sales […] Read more

The striped flea beetle is becoming more predominant on the Prairies.

Crops, Features

Protect your profits from flea beetles

Insect Management: In a warm dry summer growing season, flea beetles could have a chance to thrive

By Dilia Narduzzi June 2, 2016

If you’re growing canola or mustard this year (or garden vegetables like broccoli or cauliflower) you might need to be concerned about the flea beetle, says Scott Hartley, provincial insect/vertebrate pest management specialist for Saskatchewan. Climate conditions matter, though, when it comes to certain pests, and the flea beetle is no different. “If it’s going […] Read more

China soybean imports hit record June high on strong Brazil shipments

Alberta crop conditions improve: report

U.S. grains: Corn sets contract lows on expectations for big US crop

GFM Network News