Issues of the week:

July 14, 2010 — Unexplained bud browning and strange plant growth has retailers and growers in the Peace unsure of the problem. Drought stress, nutrient deficiency and herbicide damage are possible causes. In central Manitoba, root rot is the likely but unconfirmed cause of hairless and weak canola roots. The key lesson: Until you know the cause of damage, don’t spend money on control measures. Proper diagnosis is a methodical process of elimination. In other news, insect pressures are limited and with flowering past 50% in many fields, sclerotinia spraying is winding down.