Reading Time: 5 minutes Glacier FarmMedia – Winter isn’t exactly prime time to scout for insects, diseases and weeds, but last year’s pests may provide a baseline to help prepare for the next canola crop, agronomists say. “Review the challenges you had last year and have a plan in place as to how you’re going to handle them this […] Read more
Prepping for the 2024 canola crop
Planning for crop stresses now will set growers up for success when it is time to act: agronomists
Watch for post-harvest grain pests
Reading Time: < 1 minute As farmers prepare to put their next crop into storage, the Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) has some tips to help identify insects (and know if they’re pests) if they appear in stored grain. The commission identifies 20 species of insects as primary pests (19 beetle species and one species of moth). Over 33 species are […] Read more
A (very) small solution to big ag problems
Nanotech may be the future of precision crop protection, says Lethbridge scientist
Reading Time: 4 minutes In just a few years, crop spraying could become largely a thing of the past. Nanotechnology may take its place using its ability to target specific crop pests. Farmers hear a lot of such whizzy claims. But a Lethbridge researcher is so confident in nanotech-based crop protection that he’s working to ensure it doesn’t follow […] Read more
Wheat varieties could move from midge tolerance to midge resistance
Researchers are trying to isolate molecules that appear to transmit resistance to their neighbours
Reading Time: 2 minutes A group of western Canadian researchers is trying to create wheat strains with built-in resistance to wheat midge. Though midge-tolerant varieties are available, they are on a mission to add another layer of defence. “One thing biologists have noticed is there are certain varieties of wheat that, for whatever reason … where the midge will […] Read more
Bugs get their due in new facility
Reading Time: < 1 minute The University of Saskatchewan is building a new facility specifically designed to conduct research on arthropod plant pests (such as aphids) and beneficial insects. The Insect Research Facility, a first in Western Canada, will be led by entomologist Sean Prager who was recruited four years ago “in response to increased need for entomological research, training […] Read more
Keep watch for wheat midge this growing season
This silent killer is a ‘big bad’ threat and may be out in force in some areas this year
Reading Time: 5 minutes Ask any wheat farmer about orange blossom wheat midge and they may tell you it’s the ‘big bad’ of crop insects and comparable to fusarium in terms of pure destructive power. “It’s kind of insidious,” said AgCanada entomologist Tyler Wist. “Often if you’re not out looking for it you don’t even know it’s there. Then […] Read more
Wheat stem sawfly survey finds some hot spots in southern Alberta
Populations of the pest seem low in most areas, but some fields had moderate or high damage
Reading Time: 2 minutes Populations of wheat stem sawfly are increasing in parts of southern Alberta, the latest provincial survey has found. The survey, conducted in the fall, found increased levels of sawfly damage in Forty Mile County. However, sawfly numbers seem to have declined in Willow Creek and Vulcan Counties, but that might just be a reflection of […] Read more
Resistant insect populations growing in southern Alberta
Insecticide-resistant alfalfa weevils are cropping up in alfalfa seed-growing regions, and beneficial bugs may be the answer
Reading Time: 3 minutes Insecticide-resistant insects have flown under the radar on the Canadian Prairies — but researchers are keeping an eye on a growing population of them in southern Alberta. “We don’t have very many insects that are resistant to insecticides here on the Prairies, so luckily, it’s not that widespread of an issue,” said Boyd Mori, researcher […] Read more
Crop pest survey tools up and running
Reading Time: < 1 minute The Alberta Insect Pest Monitoring Network has “live feed maps” up and running for the province. The maps show results from traps around the province set up and overseen by co-operator farmers. As co-operators post results from the traps, they are posted immediately to the map. The five insects covered by these maps are bertha […] Read more
Grain beetles on the rise after wet harvest
Requests for pesticide certificates are up, likely because more grain is being turned away at elevators
Reading Time: 2 minutes Farmers are finding more grain beetles and that has provincial ag officials fielding more requests for renewals or issuing new certificates under the Farmer Pesticide Certificate Program. “We see it almost every year in southern Alberta, but it’s creeping up to central Alberta, too,” said provincial crop specialist Harry Brook. “After the very difficult harvest, […] Read more
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