Reading Time: < 1 minute The Alberta Insect Pest Monitoring Network provides insect management resources to help monitor crop pests in Alberta. It coordinates, manages and carries out seven insect surveys province-wide in Alberta’s field crops to assess presence, abundance and impact to the agriculture industry. The most recent map is the bertha army worm survey results. That and other […] Read more
Stay up-to-date on insect pests
Keep watch for army worms in fields
Reading Time: < 1 minute The province’s extensive network of bertha army worm traps isn’t sounding any alarm bells yet, but producers should keep watch, says insect management specialist Scott Meers. Results from the traps are posted on the Alberta Agriculture website. If the cumulative count reaches 300 moths, Meers strongly recommends scouting starting in late July and progress through […] Read more
Fields wanted for insect survey
Reading Time: < 1 minute Alberta Agriculture and Forestry is looking for pea and wheat fields for its 2018 insect survey. Teams will survey for pea leaf weevil in late spring, and for wheat midge and wheat stem sawfly in the fall after harvest. “We are looking for fields that producers would be happy to have us check. For allowing […] Read more
There could be some gain from the bone-chilling pain
Record cold temperatures provide silver lining by killing off bertha army worms and alfalfa weevils
Reading Time: 2 minutes Last month’s cold weather snap could pay some dividends for crop producers. “It could be good news. The bad news is that we got snow at the beginning of it, so snow tends to insulate,” said Scott Meers, insect pest management specialist with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry. The deep freeze gripped the entire province, with […] Read more
Crop pest and disease watch for 2015
Some of the usual suspects could be back this year, especially if you are pushing your rotations
Reading Time: 6 minutes The new growing season is underway, with a combination of old and new challenges and opportunities. Alberta Farmer reporter Alexis Kienlen asked some experts about things that producers should look out for this growing season. Here’s what they had to say: Plant diseases It’s difficult for plant pathologists to predict the possibility of diseases, said Kelly […] Read more
Bug forecast maps online
Reading Time: < 1 minute The first two insect forecasting maps are online, and the rest are due out in January. The wheat midge survey found none of the pests in the Peace region — a complete reversal of the previous year. Central Alberta has some hot spots, while southern Alberta has low numbers save for some irrigated fields in the […] Read more
Twitter the newest weapon in the war against crop pests
An innovative farm tool uses Twitter to give producers breaking bug news and tips, as well as allowing them to ask questions and provide insect updates from their areas
Reading Time: 3 minutes Watch out for cabbage seed pod weevil if you farm south of the Trans-Canada, and producers in the western and southern-central parts of the province should be on the lookout because bertha army worms may be marching in your direction. Those were two of the take-aways from the first 2014 #ABbugchat — the Twitter hashtag […] Read more
Alberta insect forecasts for 2014
Maps indicate where insects could be a problem for growing season
Reading Time: < 1 minute Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development has posted its annual insect forecast maps online. The maps indicate where insects could be an issue during the growing season and can help in formulating plans for seeding and pest control. “The biggest new insect issue is wheat midge in the Fahler area of the Peace area as well […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
