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Tag Archives insects

Flea beetle.
Crops, Features

Expect flea beetle and cutworm issues in Alberta fields

Grasshopper population levels will depend on weather, for one

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Spring is finally coming to Alberta crop fields. Unfortunately, insect pests won’t be far behind. Weather, natural population cycles and wind conditions are just a few factors influencing insect pest numbers this season. Grasshopper Alberta is home to 85 species of grasshoppers, three of which caused economic damage to Alberta fields last year. In the […] Read more
Two-striped grasshopper and wheat midge numbers on the rise in Saskatchewan
Crops, News

Two-striped grasshopper and wheat midge numbers on the rise in Saskatchewan

Another dry spring could also increase flea beetle pressure

By
Exactly which insect pests will chomp their way into your crops this year and how much damage they’ll do depends on wind, weather and, above all, your scouting and management choices. This year, Saskatchewan growers should keep an eye out for rising populations of two-stripe grasshopper and wheat midge, meanwhile dry spring conditions will increase […] Read more
The red turnip beetle is a pest that feeds on cruciferous crops such as canola or mustard.
Crops, Features

Separating the good insects from the bad

These two insects look similar, but only one is beneficial in your fields


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Throughout the growing season growers are tasked with the need to tell the difference between many “good” and “bad” things in the field. Sometimes it is hard to quickly tell the difference. Knowing the difference between things in the field is critical to determine if, when, and how to treat. Take for example the red […] Read more
This photo shows just three of the several different species of wireworm thriving on the Prairies.
Crops, News

Wily wireworm remains a mystery

Lack of effective control allows pest to flourish

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Dallas Leduc says he hasn’t noticed any particular yield losses he can blame on wireworm damage in crops on his southern Saskatchewan, grain, oilseed and pulse crop operation, but then for many years they’ve also made a point of using recommended seed treatments as well. “The pest is out there and we may have the […] Read more
Nine pests to watch for if you’re growing flax
Crops

Nine pests to watch for if you’re growing flax

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Dr. James Tansey, Saskatchewan Agriculture’s insect specialist, reminded farmers at a Saskatchewan Agriculture conference in Weyburn, Sask., that “plants are not a passive part of the environment.” Flax produces poison in the form of cyanogenic glycoside (cyanide) that is toxic to several insects. However, your flax crop may still need some help protecting itself from […] Read more
Red-backed cutworms.
Crops, Wheat & Chaff

Summer scouting timing: cutworms

Q & A with Nutrien Ag Solutions

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Q: When and how should I scout for cutworms? A: With a new growing season upon us, growers must keep a watchful eye for pests in their fields. One early-season pest is cutworms. Cutworms have a ferocious appetite for young developing plants. They can be a problem in many western Canadian crops but canola is most susceptible […] Read more
The usual suspects are back this year, and they’re looking to take a bite out of your yields: grasshoppers, bertha armyworm, and cabbage seedpod weevil.
Crops, News

Three crop pests to watch for in Alberta in 2019

Grasshoppers, bertha armyworms and cabbage seedpod weevil

By
Each winter, Alberta Agriculture and Forestry entomologist Scott Meers and Alberta Agriculture and Forestry insect research technologist Shelley Barkley host #ABbugchat on Twitter, drawing the attention of growers across the province. This year, the pair released forecast maps for three pests: grasshopper, bertha armyworm and cabbage seedpod weevil. Here’s what you missed. Grasshoppers The forecast […] Read more
Holding an Earthworm in Hand
Columns, Crops, Hart Attacks

Don’t underestimate the power of soil bugs

Save money, increase profits by getting billions of little creatures working for you

By
There’s that message again — learning to farm without inputs. It is a pretty compelling concept: being able to grow a crop without $200 or $300 per acre invested in added fertilizer and crop protection products. Is it a myth? Does it work? What are these guys trying to sell me? Kevin Elmy says it works. […] Read more
The two-striped grasshopper is a pest. If you have to spray, spray early, since juveniles are easy to kill. But wait until the hatch is finished.
Crops, News

Managing grasshopper outbreaks

Provincial forecast maps show mixed levels of grasshopper risks

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Grasshopper forecasts, based on last summer’s population counts, weather data and recent trends, are now available in all three Prairie provinces for 2019. Alberta Agriculture and Forestry entomologist Scott Meers warns that a dry spring could lead to major risk of grasshopper outbreaks in 2019. In southern Alberta, consecutive dry summers have resulted in an increase in grasshopper […] Read more

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