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Now is the time to scout for diseases in canola that will impact your canola now and into the future. In the short video above, CCC agronomy specialist Keith Gabert explains how to clip plants to look for diseased tissue.
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Is it verticillium stripe, sclerotinia or blackleg?
Scouting for disease can be easier at this time of year, as diseased plants may die prematurely and be clearly visible amongst the still living crop. However, differentiating between diseases can be challenging. Don’t scout from the road or jump to conclusions: walk the field, scout carefully and send samples to labs. Here are quick tips on how to tell verticillium stripe, sclerotinia and blackleg apart. CCC agronomy specialists and others can help with diagnostics. Free clubroot, verticillium stripe and blackleg testing is available in MB for MCGA members (more info here), and in SK through SaskCanola/SaskOilseeds (more info here).
(Identifying sclerotinia stem rot) (Verticillium stripe and blackleg)
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Is that bug actually a problem (and can anything be done to manage it?)
There are many species of insects in the crop, some in relatively high numbers. Only a few will hurt the crop at this late stage. Scout carefully and regularly, especially for lygus bugs, diamondback moths and bertha armyworm. High grasshopper populations have been reported in some southern regions of both Alberta and Saskatchewan. Lygus threshold of 2-3 per sweep (20-30 per 10 sweeps) now applies to canola at late flower to early pod. Once past this stage, the crop should be tolerant of feeding. Bertha armyworm’s peak emergence was late this year and warm spots of adult emergence were found so scouting for this insect now should be a priority. Some cricket damage to pods has been reported, usually at field edges and localized. There are no thresholds or control products registered for crickets.
CCC agronomy specialists are often asked how dry canola must be before pests stop eating it. Though the answer depends on the insect and the tissue the insect feeds on, some later-season insects with chewing mouthparts (ex: grasshoppers) will continue feeding until the crop is extremely dry, but fluid feeders like lygus and aphids can’t utilize the crop efficiently at this stage. (Prairie Pest Monitoring Update of the Week – August 9) (Canola Insect Scouting Guide) (Pest & Predator Field Guide)
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Are the neighbours swathing way too early?
We are still at least a week or more away from correct swath timing in most areas. Though plants may be turning colour (which may indicate disease), seeds still need time to mature. Crack open pods to assess. Waiting until at least 60% seed colour change to swath improves yield and quality. Where fields show uneven maturity due to hail, disease, flower blast, etc., assess where the majority of the yield exists, then time swathing around that portion of the crop. If drought locks in green seed, delay swathing where possible.
Use the time while waiting on the crop to mature to: add a loss pan to the combine and review how to use it, add clippers and sample bags for disease scouting to the swather, clean and prep bins, and ensure the straw chopper is operating as it should – 2025’s success starts with effective residue management this harvest.
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Manage kochia now or wait for harvest?
Kochia is poking above the canola canopy in many fields, including some that haven’t had it in the past. It typically gets a foothold in low-lying, unproductive, saline and/or compacted zones. If it hasn’t yet gone to seed, mow the patch as soon as possible: this will be the last opportunity to manage patches easily before seeds are viable. If it has gone to seed, don’t combine through it: harvest around it, then manage the patch after harvest. (How to contain herbicide resistant kochia) (Test kochia escapes for glyphosate resistance) (Manage kochia resistance now)
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QUIZ – Harvest looms
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As canola harvest looms, this quiz reminds you to scout for blackleg, properly prep bins and follow critical timing for pre-harvest sprays…
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STOP THE STRIKE:
The potential simultaneous disruption of Canada’s two national rail carriers poses a significant risk to Canadian agriculture, other industries and the broader Canadian economy. Make your voice heard — send a letter to Ottawa at stopthestrike.ca.
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UPCOMING EVENT:
Saskatchewan Disease Training Days: Hosted in partnership between SaskCanola, Agri-ARM and the Canola Council of Canada and free to attend. Members of each of these organizations will be presenting as well as local crop extension specialists and provincial specialists. Topics covered will include disease scouting, identification for the four main canola diseases, and taking samples to submit for confirmation. Register here to attend. Workshops will be held in:
– Outlook, SK, on August 28, (bonus: CCC agronomy specialist Shawn Senko will be joining)
– Melfort, SK, on September 5 (bonus: CCC agronomy specialist Ian Epp will be joining)
– Yorkton, SK on September 12 (bonus: CCC agronomy specialists Warren Ward and Breanna Miller will be joining.)
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CALL FOR NOMINATIONS:
The currently forming SaskOilseeds (previously SaskCanola and SaskFlax) is calling for farmer nominations for its Board of Directors. Applications are due Sept 30, 2024. More details are available here.
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UPCOMING EVENT:
Registration is now open for the Water Security Agency (WSA)’s Point of Adequate Outlet (PAO) course. To register, contact Heather Davies. Full introductory PAO course dates are as follows:
* Sept 20 online virtual session (9-11am) + Sept 26 field day near Yorkton, SK (9am-3pm)
* Oct 4 online virtual session (9-11am) + Oct 9 field day near Moose Jaw, SK (9am-3pm)
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UPCOMING EVENT:
The newly formed SaskOilseeds is calling for farmer nominations for its Board of Directors. Applications are due Sept 30, 2024. More details are available here.
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OPPORTUNITY:
Contribute to valuable research by collecting sclerotia in canola: A new research project examining whether sclerotinia in canola has developed fungicide tolerance needs field samples. Samples from 100 fields are needed in both Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Please collect sclerotia or 2-5 infected stem-pieces in canola fields after harvest, then ship using the address and other information in this pdf. If you have questions, email AAFC Research Scientist Lone.Buchwaldt@agr.gc.ca. Thanks in advance for your help!
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AGRISERVICE BC CROP AND LIVESTOCK REPORTER PROGRAM:
Following successful crop reporting programs in Alberta and Saskatchewan, BC in July launched a Crop and Livestock Reporter tool that allows producers or allied tradespeople (agronomists, etc) to contribute timely, local ag intel to raise awareness of growing conditions throughout BC and support ag info sharing. Participants are asked to submit responses weekly to five-minute online surveys on a variety of agronomic factors from rainfall and soil moisture to seeding, crop development and harvest progress. No identifying information from crop reporters will be shared. For more info, click here.
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NEW SCLEROTINIA RISK ASSESSMENT TOOL:
You might have seen CCC agronomy specialist and sclerotinia lead, Chris Manchur, on a recent episode of RealAg’s The Agronomists discussing our new sclerotinia risk assessment tool. If not, here’s a link to view the broadcast. The new tool offers a recommendation about whether or not to spray a canola crop (at 20-50 per cent flower) and an opportunity to assess the spray decision by rating disease severity at maturity (30-60 per cent seed colour change.) It also features an economic calculator and a helpful sclerotinia resource library. Check it out today at CanolaCalculator.ca.
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CROP DIAGNOSTICS:
Canola Council agronomy specialists and other provincial canola specialists are available to help diagnose issues in crops. However, they need adequate information and good photographs to be able to provide meaningful advice. Here are photography tips and good guidelines for submitting samples.
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PEST SURVEY and MAPPING:
Each year, surveyors conduct field visits to gather information for insect survey and population maps in Alberta. In addition, producers can fill out this online Cutworm web submission form to report the location and other details about suspected cutworm finds. Use this interactive map of Alberta to view Cutworm survey results.
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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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