Hail Again

Thunderstorms last week and over the weekend brought hail to a number of locations. Mid-season hail damage not only causes physical injury on the plant but is also a concern for disease access. The hail wounds on the plant can provide points of entry for disease pathogens such as sclerotinia stem rot, alternaria black spot or blackleg if environmental conditions have been conducive to spore production and disease development.  If growers are contemplating a fungicide application, they should also consider yield potential of the remaining crop and the risk of fall frost due to the delayed maturity, which could negate the benefits of the application. More information about hail damage to canola is available at the following link: http://www.canola-council.org/chapter5.aspx.