Reading Time: 3 minutes Glacier FarmMedia – The insect experts say that every farmer across the Prairies should have a huge picture of coccinellidae larvae on their machine shop wall. If the scientific name doesn’t sound familiar, the common name certainly will. It’s the family of beetles that includes ladybugs and Asian lady beetles. “Everybody recognizes the adults and […] Read more
The under-recognized aphid eaters
The larvae of lady beetles are less commonly identified, but take just as big a bite out of crop pest populations
Stay up-to-date on insect pests
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
To best weather drought, focus on what you can control
It comes down to making sure there’s room for recovery while balancing risk and cost
Reading Time: 3 minutes There’s not much that producers can do in the event of drought. They’re hostage to nature and hope for enough rainfall to save their crops. While recent rains in parts of Alberta were helpful, crops will need more moisture this season and there’s no guarantee it will come. But while watching the skies, farmers can […] Read more
Insects posing problems in Saskatchewan crops
Grasshopper, flea beetle damage already reported
MarketsFarm – Although it’s still early in the growing season, some insect pests have already posed a threat to crops in Saskatchewan or could do so in the near future, according to James Tansey, provincial specialist for insects/invertebrate pest management. Among the pests he cited were grasshoppers, flea beetles and pea leaf weevils. Tansey said […] Read more
Find out what will be bugging you in 2023
Reading Time: < 1 minute They’re not causing headaches yet, but it won’t be long before crop pests will be a concern. Producers are urged to sign up for the Prairie Pest Monitoring Network’s free weekly e-newsletter at prairiepest.ca. A large number of collaborators and volunteers collect thousands of samples across the Prairies during the growing season to bring farmers […] Read more
Pest survey results and maps now available
There’s extensive information available on high-risk insect pest species in Alberta
Reading Time: 2 minutes Alberta’s agriculture ministry has begun posting 2022 insect population maps and 2023 forecast information. The counts are based on extensive sampling by agricultural fieldmen and applied research groups across the province last year, and the reports from Alberta Agriculture highlight survey findings by region. They also provide info on identification, life cycle, damage and pest […] Read more
How do you manage resistant pests?
Reading Time: < 1 minute Farmers are being asked to share their strategies on how to manage weed, insect and disease resistance. The contest offers prizes (iPads and Tim Hortons gift cards) for winning entries. “The Pest Management Challenge is an opportunity to get people talking and to encourage the adoption of resistance management best practices,” said Jennifer Hubert, an […] Read more
All in all, it wasn’t a bad crop year – and that’s welcome news
Keep an eye out for flea beetles, grasshoppers and bacterial leaf streak in the coming year
Reading Time: 4 minutes A lot of flea beetles, few diseases and pretty good yields are highlights of this growing season for three crop specialists. “In general, we’re at or above average for the five-year (yield) average and some of the 10-year averages,” said Jeremy Boychyn, agronomy research extension manager with Alberta Wheat and Alberta Barley. “All of Alberta […] Read more
Group brings many viewpoints together in pest battle
Prairie Biovigilance Network promises proactive approach to managing weeds, insects and disease
Reading Time: 3 minutes Glacier FarmMedia – A new initiative aims to boost surveillance of — and the response to — pests affecting Prairie agriculture. The Prairie Biovigilance Network comprises a group of experts in plant pathology, entomology, weed science, economics and agronomy led by AgCanada research scientist Brent McCallum. Researchers examine the pests that are causing the problem […] Read more
Tiny pea leaf weevil spreads across vast prairie landscape
The adults leave tell-tale signs but it’s their offspring that wreak havoc below ground
Reading Time: 4 minutes Pea leaf weevils have completed their eastward trek across the Prairies, and while they’re generally not a huge issue, pea and faba growers need to learn the habits of these hard-to-spot pests. Adult pea leaf weevils are tiny and were first found in Canada near Lethbridge in 2000. By 2019, they had crossed the Manitoba […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
