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In this video, Dr. Kelly Turkington, research scientist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in Lacombe, Alberta, discusses recent research into the delivery of practical sclerotinia stem rot risk forecasts based on improved assessment of canola petal infestation.
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Quiz – Sclerotinia stem rot
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Are you in an area where sclerotinia stem rot management is a “maybe” or “yes” this year? Take this quiz for a few tips…
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Will it pay to spray for sclerotinia?
With precipitation spotty in many areas and canola now entering or partially through bloom, many growers are struggling with whether or not to spray for sclerotinia. The sclerotinia spray decision should be an ongoing process of reassessment; not a ‘once and done’ decision. Base assessment on these risk factors. (Risk assessment tools: Precipitation forecasting / Prairie soil moisture maps / Alberta sclerotinia risk map / Manitoba Agriculture’s Canola sclerotinia treatment decision calculator)
Given fungicide’s $25-$30/acre cost of application, a spray pass must preserve 1-2bu/acre or more to offer return on investment. It is difficult to evaluate yield near the end of the season, let alone at bloom. The best way to predict yield potential is to consider inputs: how much precipitation has fallen? How much fertility exists in the soil? Low plant counts can still deliver yields above 40 bu/ac and therefore may still warrant fungicide protection when disease risk is high. A variably staged crop may benefit from a split fungicide application. (Sclerotinia fungicide improves yield but check ROI) (Managing sclerotinia in oilseed and pulse crops) (Sclerotinia stem rot)
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How, when and whether to tackle grasshoppers?
While some pests are easy to overlook, grasshoppers – which burst off plants and ping off vehicles – are nearly impossible to ignore. Still, the decision of whether to spray for grasshoppers should be based on the same best management practices that govern all insect spraying: careful identification and a threshold. Many grasshopper species prefer specific host plants, so identify species and assess crop damage first. If damage is present, the action threshold for grasshoppers in canola is is 8-12/m2. This number is under review as Dan Johnson, the ‘Grasshopper Guru’ suggests it could be as low as 5/m2 (unpublished). The Prairie Pest Monitoring Network recommends this grasshopper monitoring protocol. Because it is very difficult to accurately count grasshoppers, estimating numbers may be necessary. Scouting when grasshoppers are immature is easier, as grasshoppers whose wings only partially cover their abdomens hop rather than fly. Rain typically helps keep grasshoppers at bay; high heat will help nymphs mature more quickly. (Prairie Pest Monitoring Network grasshopper historical risk maps) (Label update for lambda-cyhalothrin)
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Is there any way to reduce heat stress / flower blasting?
Canola does not do well when high environmental temperatures occur leading up to or during flowering. When the mercury exceeds 28 to 30°C (especially if warm nights above 16°C don’t allow opportunity for recovery), canola undergoes stress that causes a breakdown in communication between the plant’s various reproductive parts. This breakdown leads to flower blasting and aborted pods. Heat stress that impacts seed formation can occur in a plant’s early reproductive stages, well before flowers are actually visible, and/or at any point during flowering. While heat stress up until the end of flowering impacts the overall number of seeds, heat (and other stresses) later in the season impact size of each seed and overall quality. Unfortunately, research to date shows no evidence that any products promoted as heat stress aids or ‘cures’ are effective. If you choose to trial a product in hopes it will reduce heat stress, leave a check strip to calculate ROI. There are many reasons for missing pods other than heat stress.
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What would you like to learn this tour season?
The CCC, various grower associations, research facilities and others will be hosting a wide variety of field tours and learning opportunities throughout the summer. These events are an excellent chance to build agronomic knowledge, learn about new opportunities, get questions answered, and make connections to others in the industry. Our weekly Community Connections, summarized in our newsletter and offered in full detail on our website, provides a listing of almost all canola and canola industry related events prairie-wide. Check it out here.
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Canola Community Connections
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DISEASE REPORTING AND TRACKING:
The Prairie Crop Disease Monitoring Network has updated their Quick Disease Reporter Tool to make it easier to use. Reporting is now done on a municipality basis across the Prairie region with no need to submit field-specific information. More information is available here. Please participate! The success of this tool is dependent on participation: more reporting allows better information and more timely action for all.
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UPCOMING EVENT: Canola 4R Advantage demo plots
The CCC has established demo plots to demonstrate 4R fertility principles and to talk about the Canola 4R Advantage program. CCC staff will be on hand at these locations and tour dates:
– July 18th – Indian Head Crop Management Field Day – at IHARF, Indian Head, Saskatchewan
– July 25th – Lakeland College Field Day in at Lakeland College in Vermilion, Alberta
– August 1st-2nd Olds College field day, at Olds College, Alberta
– August 9th at 9am – Manitoba 4R Day at EMILI Innovation Farms, Grosse Isle, Manitoba
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UPCOMING EVENT: Brown Soil Zone (BSZ) canola demo plot tours
– July 18th – Chinook Applied Research Association 2023 Crop Tour Day, Oyen, Alberta
– July 20th – Wheatland Conservation Area (WCA) Field Day, Swift Current, Saskatchewan
– July 27th – Palliser Triangle Ag tour, Avonlea, Saskatchewan
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UPCOMING EVENT: Manitoba Crop Diagnostic School – July 6, 11, 12 & 13. The Crop Diagnostic School is designed to refine the diagnostic skills of agronomists and producers involved in field scouting and assessing crop health. This event is organized by Manitoba Agriculture and the University of Manitoba and will be hosted at the University of Manitoba Ian N. Morrison Research Farm in Carman. 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. daily. Registration is $175 per person. For more information about Crop Diagnostic School click here.
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UPCOMING EVENT: Sask Crop Commissions Field Tour – July 11, 9am – 2pm. Hosted by Saskatchewan’s crop commissions and Max Ag, the tour will feature biological nitrogen fixation trials and seeding rate trials. Lunch and transportation from the Plenty, SK hall to the trial locations included. More information and registration is available here.
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UPCOMING EVENT: Grain Dryer Setup College
July 11 at Oakland Colony Farms in Carroll, MB
July 12 at Red River Seeds in Morris, MB
This event will feature several informative speakers covering all aspects of the grain dryer setup process, including equipment, power sources, relevant regulations and bylaws, and safety concerns. There will also be time provided for questions, allowing attendees to get information and advice specific to their operation. Hosted by Manitoba Canola Growers (MCGA), Manitoba Crop Alliance (MCA) and Manitoba Pulse & Soybean Growers (MPSG), in partnership with the Canola Council of Canada. Registration is now live.
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UPCOMING EVENT: Farmer First Aid Training presented by Manitoba Canola Growers and FarmSafe Manitoba
Selkirk: July 18, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm at Saint Andrews, MB
Dauphin: July 20, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm at Dauphin, MB
More details here.
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UPCOMING EVENT: Saskatchewan Crop Diagnostic School – Indian Head, SK – July 25 OR 26 (choose one day only). Hosted by the Indian Head Agricultural Research Foundation, this is an in-depth training opportunity to improve crop scouting skills and further one’s agronomic knowledge. Time: 8:00 to 3:00 each day with registration beginning at 8am. Cost: $100.00 per person (includes lunch). Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are pending for Certified Crop Advisors. Limited spaces are available – register early to guarantee a spot.
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UPCOMING EVENT: Combine Clinic for Agronomists is scheduled for the afternoon of August 3, 2023 at the Ag in Motion site (near Langham, just 30 minutes NW of Saskatoon, SK). There will be two sessions: one on understanding a combine and combine adjustments, and another on measuring losses behind the combine. Register today, as space is limited!
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UPCOMING FIELD DAYS: There are many field days now scheduled in each of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. For details and links to register, visit this week’s full Community Connections listing here.
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SURVEY – CSPW Survey: The Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture is looking for canola fields in southwest Saskatchewan for the cabbage seedpod weevil survey. Interested producers can email Faith Hillsden to sign up.
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SURVEY – Should SaskCanola & SaskFlax amalgamate? Have your say here. The online consultation runs July 1 – Nov 17, 2023.
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JOB OPPORTUNITY: SaskCanola is looking to hire a Communications Specialist and a Flax Research & Extension Specialist. Application deadline is July 11. More information here.
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SUPPORT: Are you or is someone you know feeling burnt out, unreasonably stressed or exhausted? Help is available.
– Support lines by province
– Do More Ag Foundation
– Manitoba Farmer Wellness Program
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For a full listing of canola-related resources, opportunities and upcoming events, check out this week’s full Community Connections pagehere.
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