Prairie crop producers need to focus on conserving beneficial insects while simultaneously managing pest insects. Many of those beneficials help promote synergies and make the best use of other ecosystem service providers.
Tag Archives insect damage
Producers urged to protect beneficial insects
When battling crop pests, a research scientist cautions farmers not to throw the baby out with the bathwater
Lambda-cy back in the toolbox
After two years reviewing updated data, regulators rule in favour of a popular pest control product
Prairie farmers are welcoming the return of some important insecticides to the crop protection toolbox — although there’s still some headshaking over why use of the products was interrupted in the first place, and why it took two years for the federal Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) to re-evaluate registration data. Although producers such as […] Read more
The march of the cabbage seedpod weevil
Cooler, wetter spring could favour the pests this year
The cool, damp spring the Prairies are experiencing could lead to a bad year for cabbage seedpod weevils, which is bad news for canola growers. “They seem to like it a little bit cooler, rather than very hot, and can suffer with great heat and very dry conditions,” Saskatchewan Agriculture entomologist James Tansey says. “That […] Read more
When a pest isn’t a pest
Finding flea beetles and lygus bugs in canola fields doesn’t necessarily mean they’re a problem. Sometimes lygus bugs can even benefit the crop
Insect pests aren’t always true pests. Hard as it may be for farmers to imagine, sometimes the insects do more good than harm. That was a key message from an April online seminar on insect control in canola organized by the University of Manitoba’s Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences. The three panelists — Alejandro […] Read more
Going, not gone: Some hot spots remain for midge
Recent low wheat midge counts no guarantee the problem won't return
Wheat midge populations on the Prairies have been declining for the past few years, but a researcher specializing in insect pests says farmers need to remain vigilant about the threat they pose to crops. “My advice (to farmers) is don’t turn your back on wheat midge, even if you are in a (low level) green […] Read more
Grasshoppers: Brace for impact
The past year was bad for grasshoppers on the Prairies and 2024 could be worse, experts warn
It’s still the middle of winter, but it’s never too early to think about grasshoppers. That was one message delivered at last month’s Canola Week annual meetings in Calgary, which brought together canola industry leaders from across North America. Meghan Vankosky, a field crop entomologist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada based in Saskatoon, spoke during […] Read more
A proactive approach to insect management
Q & A with an expert
Q: What steps can I take to reduce the risk of insect damage? A: In the spring, the threat of insects may seem far off, but there are steps you can take at seeding time to reduce the risk of insect damage. Proactive measures are powerful tools to protect yield and reduce the amount of […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
