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Tag Archives insects

colorado potato beetle in manitoba
Crops, Features

How potato pests find ways around insecticides

Resistance to insecticides is complicating pest control, prompting experts to advocate for integrated management strategies

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Several mechanisms allow insects to survive pesticide applications — for example, metabolic resistance, in which the pest detoxifies the insecticide faster than a susceptible individual, or target-site resistance, in which the receptor sites affected by the pesticide are altered.
syrphid fly larvae attacks aphid
Crops, Features

Producers urged to protect beneficial insects

When battling crop pests, a research scientist cautions farmers not to throw the baby out with the bathwater

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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.
Canola growing with sun rising behind
Canola, Canola Production Guide, Guides

Canola’s changing climes

Trends in the Prairies’ climate should generally be net good for canola crops, even as pest pressures here adjust accordingly

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Canola cropping patterns in the Prairies may have to adapt to climate change in the coming years — but the changes should be relatively positive for production. Canola area continues to be the leader in Western Canada, with a total of 21.9 million acres sown this year according to Statistics Canada. This is over 3.2 […] Read more
An entomologist with the University of Manitoba stresses that farmers can be proactive in protecting predator and parasitoid populations.
Crops

Predators and parasitoids – your bug buddies in the field

How to spot and protect beneficial bugs in your crops

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When scouting for insects in your fields next year, it’s not only crop-devouring pests you should keep an eye out for. That’s because insect predators like ground beetles as well as parasitic wasps and flies can take a big chunk out of pest populations. “It’s important to recognize there are a lot of natural enemies […] Read more
‘Perfect storm’ for grasshoppers
Features

‘Perfect storm’ for grasshoppers

The conditions are right for pest-type grasshoppers in Saskatchewan. Consider both insecticides and cultural controls

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A provincial insect management specialist says grasshoppers could pose a significant challenge for farmers in Saskatchewan this season. During a June 14 webinar offering advice on managing grasshopper populations, James Tansey of Saskatchewan Agriculture said, “we’ve got a bit of a perfect storm for grasshoppers this year.” According to Tansey, warm and dry conditions in […] Read more
Temperature can play an important role in the amount of damage flea beetles can cause to a canola crop. Both species do most of their damage in warm conditions.
Canola, Crops, Features

Efficacies of insecticide seed treatments on flea beetles

The latest findings on flea beetle control products

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The 2022 growing season was a “monstrous” year for canola farmers battling flea beetles in some parts of the Prairies. James Tansey, an entomologist with the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture, shared that assessment with a crowd of producers, agronomists, agri-retailers and other industry representatives at Saskatchewan’s Agronomy Research Update 2022, held last December in Saskatoon. […] Read more
A sprouted wheat kernel, in which the sprout is visibly still within the contour of the germ, is classified as “regular sprouted.” (GrainsCanada.gc.ca)
Crops

Grain grading guide to tighten definition of ‘severely’ sprouted wheat

More changes, clarifications on deck for Aug. 1

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A laboratory review of the end-use quality of sprouted wheat will lead to changes in how wheat is graded starting Aug. 1 this year. The Canadian Grain Commission on Tuesday announced changes in store effective Aug. 1 for how Canadian wheat is graded, along with a list of clarifications and new housekeeping rules for the […] Read more
Pea leaf weevil. (Alberta Agriculture photo)
Crops, Weather

Insects posing problems in Saskatchewan crops

Grasshopper, flea beetle damage already reported

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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

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