May 31, 2012
Gophers can eat up large areas within a canola field. Strychnine baits and, in some jurisdictions, mix-it-yourself strychnine liquid is available for gopher control. Phostoxin is also registered for gopher control, but this is a restricted use product that requires a special permit for purchase and application…
May 24, 2012
Some cutworm species are already quite active — dingy, for example — and can consume canola plants before they even emerge or shortly thereafter. Dingy cutworms will also eat wheat, barley and peas, so scout all crops. Scout bare or clipped patches, digging around in the border areas between missing plants and healthy plants. That’s where the cutworms will be…
May 24, 2012
Early diamondback moth (DBM) eggs are hatching, and some young canola plants could begin showing "window paning" of the leaves. Spraying for DBM at this stage is rarely needed but it has happened. Consider a spray if between 25% and 33% of the plant material is eaten or damaged, and larvae are still present on the plant…
May 24, 2012
Aster leafhoppers were spotted in North Dakota, Manitoba and Saskatchewan in significant numbers this week. Leafhoppers can carry aster yellows phytoplasm, but the percentage of the population carrying it tends to be quite low. In extreme cases, growers could spray the leafhoppers, but there is no economic threshold for aster leafhoppers in canola, and trying to time an insecticide so…
May 16, 2012
The Canola Council of Canada is looking for growers and agronomists willing to collect cutworms for research. Cutworms are an increasing threat to canola and other crops, and growers will benefit from knowing more about this native pest…
May 9, 2012
If flea beetles are already out and on volunteers given the conditions we’ve had, as soon as it gets warm, they will be feeding more aggressively…
May 9, 2012
When the warmer weather returns, as is forecast later this week, canola still in the seedling stage that was seeded over 3 weeks ago may be at high risk of flea beetle damage. Also, dig down to look at the seed. A soft mushy seed is dead — likely from disease — and will not emerge…
May 2, 2012
Have you looked closely at your flea beetles lately? Striped flea beetles may not have been a problem in your area in the past, but populations are shifting. This is important because striped flea beetles start feeding earlier, and are more tolerant of seed treatments currently on the market…
April 25, 2012
Striped flea beetles seem to be more common each year, especially in the northern canola growing regions. Research suggests that a population of striped flea beetles may do more feeding on seed-treated canola prior to control than a similar population of the crucifer type, so look closely when scouting…
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