Reading Time: 2 minutes Wheat midge, a non-native pest that feeds on developing wheat kernels, is a serious economic threat to farmers, especially in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. But the pest is now a growing problem in Alberta, including Peace River country, and starting to attack Montana’s wheat crops. However, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada researchers know ways to reduce its […] Read more
Good bugs save you big bucks when wheat midge arrives
Wheat midge has moved into Alberta. but two natural predators will be on your side if you foster their populations
Dry weather reducing Prairie wheat midge problems
CNS Canada — Wheat midge hasn’t been causing as many problems as first anticipated in Western Canada this year, as a dry spring hindered the pests’ emergence. The Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture’s wheat midge forecast, released earlier this year, initially showed high risk levels for the insect, but the dryness is hampering their effects on […] Read more
Prairies’ dry fields good, if you’re a grasshopper
CNS Canada –– Dry conditions causing production concerns across large areas of Alberta and Saskatchewan are certainly bad for the crops, but the weather could prove ideal for grasshoppers. Grasshopper forecast maps put out over the winter were not initially all that bad for Alberta and Saskatchewan, given the conditions in 2014, but weather in […] Read more
Cabbage seedpod weevil could cause problems for Prairie canola
CNS Canada –– Canola growes in Western Canada will have to keep an eye out for cabbage seedpod weevils in fields this year, according to government officials. “For cabbage seedpod weevil, the survey from last year was showing that it’s extended well eastwards (in Saskatchewan) with some pretty good numbers now moving more into traditional […] Read more
Wheat midge populations to collapse in parts of Alta.
CNS Canada — Recent large wheat midge populations in the eastern Peace region of Alberta are expected to collapse in 2015, according to a forecast report from the Alberta Insect Pest Monitoring Network. But there is still a risk of higher populations in the region due to the very large levels of the insect population […] Read more
Bugs helping control bugs in Alberta
Reading Time: < 1 minute In his weekly Call of the Land interview, Alberta Agriculture insect specialist Scott Meers says wheat midge are now emerging across the province. “Interestingly enough, they’re actually coming out first in the Peace and just this week they’re starting to come out across the rest of the province,” Meers said. Recent warm weather should mean […] Read more
Weekly Alberta insect report
Heavy wheat midge pressure in the Peace
Reading Time: < 1 minute In his weekly Call of the Land radio interview, Alberta Agriculture insect management specialist Scott Meers reports from the Peace River area, where wheat midge are coming “en masse.” He has recommendations for monitoring and whether to take control measures. Meers says root maggot damage in canola is more extreme this year with insects girdling […] Read more
Twitter forum highlights pest issues for Alberta producers
Reading Time: < 1 minute Wheat midge and Bertha armyworm top the list of insects to be on the watch for this spring, says insect management specialists Scott Meers and Shelley Barkley. Dry conditions in the U.S. High Plains could also see a northward migration of pests, the duo said in their first #ABbugchat of the growing season. The two […] 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
