Among the pests he cited were grasshoppers, flea beetles and pea leaf weevils. 

Tansey said the grasshopper hatch is well underway in Saskatchewan, but recent rains could change how much of a problem they become. 

“We’ve had some rain in the south of the province and we are still waiting to see what… that has done with these grasshopper nests. The moisture can contribute to disease in these animals and contribute to direct mortality,” he said, noting there have been some reports already of crop damage, 

Tansey stressed the need for vigilance with farmers checking their crops and the surrounding areas for signs of grasshoppers and other pests. He said there has been estimates of 50 to 70 grasshopper nymphs per square meter in ditches, which normal rates tend to be around 40. 

There have also been reports of striped and crucifer flea beetles in the province, especially in the central area. 

“We are hearing about damage to seedling canola in the Saskatoon area,” Tansey said, also noting large numbers of striped flea beetles in the province’s northeast. That said, he cautioned there are still few reports to go on at this time and there was still something of a chance the problem might not be as bad as expected. 

“There’s no replacement for getting out and seeing what’s happening,” he said. 

Pea leaf weevils have been reported as well, though it’s still on the early side to fully know how much of a problem they could become this year. 

“There was a pretty dramatic increase in the number of pea leaf weevil numbers in the northeast last year,” he said, noting monitoring just recently started for this year. 

Some farmers recently began spraying for different insect pests in the province, he said, but added that when reports and numbers have firmed up, the province will make the insect situation well known to them. 

— Glen Hallick reports for MarketsFarm from Winnipeg.

The post Insects posing problems in Saskatchewan crops appeared first on Farmtario.

Gavloski couldn’t say for sure if insect damage was going to be bad this year but based on what’s transpired over the last three years, he said it depends on conditions, especially for flea beetles and canola.

“Canola growers should definitely be scouting for flea beetles. A large degree of how much damage they cause will be determined by how quickly the plants are germinating and growing through those seedling stages,” he said.

“If we get weather conditions where there is quick germination and quick seedling growth, the seed treatments might be all that we need to protect from the flea beetles. If growth seems to stall in that seedling stage, that can sometimes result in the seed treatment wearing out and people are having to spray.”

Gavloski also advised to watch for signs of cutworms in canola, wheat, sunflowers and other crops.

“A couple of years ago we had some really high levels. Things seem to be tailing off a bit, but there are probably still areas where cutworms could be economical,” he said.

Grasshoppers are another potential pest that need to be high on one’s scouting list. Gavloski noted the last few years have been “conducive for grasshopper populations to build.”

Besides the above three pests, the entomologist said there’s always a chance of the winds carrying in other pests — something that cannot be predetermined. Besides scouting for insects, he suggested farmers review the Manitoba crop pest updates.

— Glen Hallick reports for MarketsFarm from Winnipeg.

The post Best to be scouting for insect pests appeared first on Farmtario.

The company had said last November it wasn’t yet sure those products would be available this year under an approaching deadline following a 2021 re-evaluation of lambda-cy by Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA).

The PMRA’s re-evaluation decision cancelled the product’s uses on all feed crops, condiment-type mustard, bulb vegetables, lettuce and some oilseeds effective 24 months from its decision date, thus setting a deadline of April 29, 2023.

The list of affected oilseed crops does not include canola/rapeseed, flax or oilseed mustard — but the ruling would prohibit those crops’ use as livestock feed.

Adama said Wednesday its decision to relabel the products “comes after several months of consulting with retailers, farmers and industry organizations on the implications” of the PMRA re-evaluation.

“After a great deal of discussion and consideration, we have confidence in our retail partners to provide good advice to growers and we trust growers themselves to use the product responsibly and within permitted guidelines,” Adama Canada general manager Cornie Thiessen said in a release.

“The bottom line for growers is to read the labeling guidelines carefully. Talk to your full-service input retailer and to your crop buyers so you can make an informed decision about if and when to apply the product.”

Adama had said in November the cancellation of lambda-cy’s use on crops destined for feed was especially raising red flags for farmers, who “have questioned whether it is feasible to use the product at all considering how difficult it is to trace where crops will be used after they leave the farm.”

READ MORE:

• How to manage without lambda-cyhalothrin in 2023
• Farmers discuss how lambda-cyhalothrin regulation changes will affect them in 2023
• Insecticide restriction pushes growers to older chemistries

Lambda-cy is a Group 3 synthetic pyrethroid contact insecticide used to control a broad range of pests at their small larvae nymph and adult stages.

Other products affected by the PMRA’s ruling include Syngenta’s insecticides Matador, Voliam Xpress, Endigo, Warrior and Demand CS, Intervet Canada’s Saber pour-on and ear tag products and Sharda Cropchem’s Labamba insecticide.

Syngenta, like Adama, launched a product recall to “amend existing labels” ahead of the April 29, 2023 deadline.

However, Syngenta also said in November it has decided not to sell lambda-cy products at all in Western Canada in 2023, though it will continue to sell Matador in “horticultural markets” in Eastern Canada.

Syngenta said via email that decision was meant “to avoid any confusion and to support 2023 business planning with our customers.”

It also said it had filed a submission to PMRA seeking reinstatement of as many livestock feed crop uses as possible and “will continue to support this submission until completed.”

Provincial agriculture ministers from Saskatchewan and Alberta last month also called for PMRA to reconsider its re-evaluation decision, saying it “leaves farmers with one fewer tool to address potentially destructive pests.”

Grasshoppers, in particular, are likely to be a significant concern again this year following “continued drought” in parts of those provinces, ministers David Marit and Nate Horner said in a statement.

The PMRA decision “could also mean the inability for canola producers to sell their products as livestock feed, which could impact availability for cattle and lamb producers,” the ministers said.

Horner and Marit said they have written to the federal health and agriculture ministers urging them to encourage the PMRA to reconsider.

“It is possible for the PMRA to enact an emergency reinstatement of the product’s use to ensure our farmers can use it for the coming growing season and give it time to make a more informed decision, but we would need that immediately,” the ministers said.

“With extreme flea beetle pressure, hotspots for grasshoppers and cutworms across the Prairies and forecasted outbreaks, the lambda-cyhalothrin decision could severely impact our yields, our livelihoods, feedstocks and food prices,” Alberta Canola chair Roger Chevraux and SaskCanola chair Keith Fournier said in the provinces’ joint release on Feb. 24.

“Lambda-cyhalothrin has a significant market share, and it will strain farmers to source alternative products.”

Noting the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has not imposed similar restrictions on lambda-cy use, the canola grower commission chairs said PMRA “needs to base its decisions on sound science and be aligned with our largest trading partner.” — Glacier FarmMedia Network

The post Adama’s lambda-cy products to be available this year appeared first on Farmtario.

For example, Gavloski cited flea beetles, which could damage canola. “If [canola] plants sit in that seedling stage for a long time, the seed treatment wears out,” and farmers would then need to apply a foliar spray, he said.

“If seeding into ground that is warmer and has good soil moisture, you may get quicker germination and quicker seedling growth. That might reduce the risk of excessive flea beetle damage.”

Overly wet soil could hinder plant growth, which would lead to a greater chance for insect pests to do damage, he said. However, the soil going into mid-May would be warmer than in late April/early May, giving crops a chance to germinate quicker.

The entomologist cautioned that grasshoppers could be another pest this year, but the varieties that do pose a risk are currently in the egg stage.

“The eggs can handle being under water for days, but juveniles after being hatched cannot sit in water or they will drown,” Gavloski said.

Soggy conditions in Manitoba coupled with cooler-than normal temperatures could slow grasshopper emergence, he said, but stressed the need to always be vigilant.

“We still want to be on guard just in case we do get that big hatch,” he warned.

While bertha armyworms were not a problem in Manitoba last year, he said traps will still be set and monitoring is important.

“They often go in cycles where they build up and are bad for a few years, and then levels drop off,” Gavloski said.

No insecticides were used in the provinces last year for bertha armyworm, he said, and there’s nothing suggesting a large outbreak ahead.

Gavloski also advised growers to keep watch for diamondback moths blowing in with winds out of the south, and for armyworms migrating from the south.

— Glen Hallick reports for MarketsFarm from Winnipeg.

The post Eastern Prairies’ wet conditions may curb insect pest risk appeared first on Farmtario.

Considering the high prices of many crops this season, the potential damage would be more costly.

John Gavloski, entomologist for Manitoba Agriculture, said there is a greater risk for flea beetles in canola crops.

“We’ve had chronically high populations in recent years and what’s making the risk even greater this year is anything that keeps the plant in the seedling stage for a prolonged period will increase the risk,” he said.

“So (because of) the dry conditions we’ve been having, if the crop emerges but isn’t advancing quickly, it makes it a lot more susceptible to flea beetle feeding.”

Cutworms, which can feed on a wide variety of field crops, are also appearing in higher-than-normal populations, Gavloski said. Certain types of grasshoppers can also feed on crops, but dense, lush vegetation outside of fields can prevent them from encroachment.

Those grasshoppers who fly before June, that have hind wings visible in flight or make noise are not considered pests. Other beneficial insects include ladybugs, ground and rove beetles, aphids and flies.

“We encourage farmers to only use broad-spectrum insecticides when needed, because you’re killing off all the good bugs and sometimes the good bugs will help keep some of the potential pests in check,” Gavloski said, adding that growers should adhere to an economic threshold.

James Tansey, insect and vertebrate management specialist for Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Agriculture, said dry conditions and delayed seeding are helping increase insect populations in farmers’ fields.

While grasshoppers and flea beetles are still major threats across the Prairies, another pest to watch out for is wheat midge, an orange fly which can reduce yields and grades of non-resistant wheat varieties.

“We have a lot of heavy populations stacked up in different parts of the province,” Tansey said. “(However), this is an animal who doesn’t do well in hot, dry conditions. It needs 25 millimetres of rain before the end of May. Otherwise, its emergence gets interrupted.”

The pea leaf weevil is also a pest of interest, according to Doug Macaulay, acting provincial entomologist for Alberta Agriculture and Forestry. The insect, as a larva and an adult, feeds on peas and other legumes and is concentrated in areas surrounding Edmonton and Lethbridge.

“The wintering adults are now starting to show up in fields now that the peas are popping out of the ground,” he said. “If there’s a heavy population and (growers) don’t have treated seed, it’s going to be very hard to control them.”

Macaulay also cautions growers to watch for wheat stem sawfly, which feeds on wheat, rye and certain types of barley, but can be attacked by the parasitic wasp Bracon cephi.

He also urges growers to scout early and act quickly against pests.

“The earlier you can take action on any insect, the better,” Macaulay said. “Smaller, younger nymphs and larvae are more susceptible and it takes less insecticide to deal with them.”

— Adam Peleshaty reports for MarketsFarm from Stonewall, Man.

The post Prairie growers on lookout as insects seize opportunity appeared first on Farmtario.

Be the insects grasshoppers, flea beetles, cutworms, or a few other types, their potential to cause significant damage to Prairie crops will partly depend on how dry and warm this coming spring will be.

Grasshoppers could be quite an issue in some parts of Saskatchewan this year, said James Tansey, the provincial specialist for insects/invertebrate pest management in Regina.

For the vast majority of Saskatchewan, grasshopper numbers should be very light, with some greater numbers in the Estevan area. The Kindersley area is expected to see light to severe populations.

Grasshopper nymphs are susceptible to raindrops as well as cooler temperatures that permit bacteria, fungi and viruses, he said.

Manitoba’s provincial entomologist John Gavloski noted a warm, dry spring would increase grasshopper populations, but also boost populations of their natural predators. He said bee flies, field crickets and blister beetles like to feed on grasshopper eggs.

“Weather and natural enemies will be the two things capable of reducing levels,” Gavloski said.

Manitoba is looking at higher grasshopper populations in the Arborg area of the Interlake, and in the Brandon-to-Russell area in the province’s west.

Alberta provincial entomologist Scott Meers pointed to the province’s south as most likely to have problems later this year with grasshoppers, especially in its south-central and southwest areas. The Peace region may also see increased numbers, he said.

As for flea beetles, Meers said they’ve been a problem in Alberta for the last two years and sees “no reason why they wouldn’t be a problem in 2020.”

If winter should continue to be cold with poor snow cover, he said that could help to bring down their numbers.

Gavloski noted flea beetles caused significant issues in 2019 for Manitoba farmers, and too the beetles’ effect on this year’s crops will be dependent on how well they overwinter.

“I encourage farmers and agronomists to be out early with their crop scouting,” he said.

Saskatchewan doesn’t monitor flea beetles, Tansey said, and there are two naturalized species: the crucifer flea beetle and the striped flea beetle.

Tansey also noted two types of weevils have been problems in the past in the province: the pea-leaf weevil and the cabbage seedpod weevil. Both types have diminished in numbers, but he stressed they are spreading to the north and east, into Manitoba.

As for cutworms, Meers said Alberta doesn’t monitor them and there are always cutworms somewhere in Alberta. Also, Gavloski reiterated the need for early scouting.

— Glen Hallick reports for MarketsFarm, a Glacier FarmMedia division specializing in grain and commodity market analysis and reporting.

The post Spring weather to determine Prairies’ crop pest load appeared first on Farmtario.

Flea beetle numbers were quite high in Manitoba in 2018, making them “probably at the top of the list of (insects) to watch out for this year,” said John Gavloski, extension entomologist with Manitoba Agriculture.

“They seem to overwinter quite well, even in very cold winters,” Gavloski said, and “even if we get bitter cold temperatures, I wouldn’t count on there being significant winterkill for flea beetles.”

The insect doesn’t like to overwinter in fields, he noted; rather, it moves into shelterbelts, hedgerows and other areas where it can hole up under a dense layer of debris.

With large flea beetle numbers likely going into the spring, the next thing to watch will be weather around seeding time.

“If we’re lucky and we get conditions where germination is quick and early-season growth is quick, the seed treatments might be all they need,” said Gavloski. However, any weather-related delays can leave crops susceptible to the insect.

Producers should keep an eye on their fields over the first few weeks of growth, he said.

“Once you get three or four true leaves, the crops can usually compensate well enough and extra sprays aren’t needed,” he said.

Building populations of bertha armyworms in the province could also pose problems in 2019. Some spraying took place in the province’s west in 2018.

Cutworm populations have been high for a number of years already, Gavloski said, noting the pest is typically more cyclical, with numbers tapering off due to natural enemies.

However, given recent cutworm populations, “we seem to be stuck with higher numbers,” he said.

Grasshopper risk is relatively low across the province, with only moderate issues possible in some localized areas, according to forecast maps.

— Phil Franz-Warkentin writes for MarketsFarm, a division of Glacier FarmMedia specializing in grain and commodity market analysis and reporting.

The post Flea beetles top Manitoba’s 2019 watch list appeared first on Farmtario.

Pest specialists in Saskatchewan and Manitoba say farmers have already begun to spray for the beetle in certain locations.

“They’ve been getting good conditions to feed under, they like it when it’s hot, dry and calm,” said John Gavloski, entomologist for Manitoba Agriculture at Carman, Man.

While the flea beetle is generally spread out across Manitoba, the situation is slightly different in Saskatchewan, where the southern portion of the province seems to be the most affected.

“What I think is happening this year is that we have the peak of the (flea beetle) population coinciding with the emergence of canola seedlings when they’re small and relatively vulnerable,” said James Tansey, Saskatchewan Agriculture’s insect specialist in Regina.

The beetle mainly targets canola and can attack both the leaf and the stem

However, while the pest is off to a good start, Gavloski said it hasn’t reached a serious population yet.

“You’ll find them but they’re not at economic levels,” he noted.

Grasshoppers typically do well in dry conditions but Gavloski doubts it will be a very big year for them.

“We actually had very low numbers in our last survey,” he said. “The forecast for this year was quite light.”

The situation is expected to be the same in Saskatchewan with a few exceptions.

“The Meadow Lake region has had light to very light populations,” said Gavloski. “We’re not expecting much provincewide.”

One of the more recent surprises for both provinces was the discovery of the cabbage seedpod weevil in Manitoba.

The pest was well established in Saskatchewan but hadn’t managed to cross the eastern border until recently.

“We found two or three in the southwest corner,” said Govloski. “But I’m not expecting there to be economic populations here anytime soon.

Like the flea beetle, the weevil’s primary menu choice is canola.

— Dave Sims writes for Commodity News Service Canada, a Glacier FarmMedia company specializing in grain and commodity market reporting.

The post Flea beetles take advantage of late seeding appeared first on Farmtario.

The Canadian Grain Commission on Wednesday announced an ergot tolerance of 0.05 per cent for all grades of fababeans and chickpeas in Western Canada effective Aug. 1, 2017, and for all grades of fababeans in Eastern Canada effective July 1, 2017.

The commission said its concern for ergot — a fungal cereal disease, producing alkaloids which are toxic to people and livestock — is that cross-contamination could occur in chickpeas or fababeans during handling.

Setting a 0.05 per cent tolerance for ergot in fababeans and chickpeas “will help guarantee the safety of Canadian grain” and lines up with other pulse crops in Canada’s Official Grain Grading Guide.

Grasshopper, army worm damage

The CGC on Wednesday also announced a tighter grading tolerance for grasshopper and army worm damage in three grades of wheat, effective Aug. 1, 2017.

At that date, the tolerance level for such damage in No. 3 Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS), No. 3 Canada Western Hard White Spring and No. 3 Canada Northern Hard Red wheat will be cut to six per cent, from the current eight per cent.

Research has shown eight per cent grasshopper and army worm damage in those wheats “can impact end-use functionality,” the CGC said.

The CGC on Wednesday also announced new standard samples for No. 1 Canada Yellow soybeans, Nos. 1 and 2 Canada Yellow peas and No. 2 Canada Green peas, and new mildew guides for Nos. 1, 2 and 3 CWRS wheat, Nos. 1, 2 and 3 Canada Western Amber Durum and Nos. 1 and 2 Canada Western Red Winter wheat.

Those new standard samples and guide samples took effect as of Tuesday, the CGC said. Standard samples and guide samples previously adopted for other grades and grains will continue to be used. — AGCanada.com Network

The post Ergot tolerances set for chickpeas, fababeans appeared first on Farmtario.

“I’d hoped that over the weekend with the rain we had it would drown the little buggers out. When they’re small like that, they’re easily drowned if there’s water on the surface,” said crop specialist Harry Brook of Alberta’s Ag-Info Centre in Stettler.

Although there wasn’t enough water for a grasshopper wipe-out, there was enough rain to prevent the severity of the problem they could potentially be.

“Usually grasshoppers are the biggest problem in a dry year,” Brook said. “We have a pretty good supply of moisture and it came slow enough that it mostly soaked into the ground, so we’ve got some reserves.”

With grass and hay getting this much moisture, it will start to grow and delay the entry of grasshoppers into the annual cropping areas, Brook said.

“If we get enough humidity… it can also increase the incidents of fungal diseases that kill off grasshoppers,” Brook said.

With warmer temperatures expected going into the weekend, Brook said Alberta crops will see a growth spurt.

“The majority of the province is sitting pretty… we’ve got the moisture, we’ve got the heat, we’re off to the races.”

— Erin DeBooy writes for Commodity News Service Canada, a Winnipeg company specializing in grain and commodity market reporting.

The post Alberta rain good news for farmers, bad news for grasshoppers appeared first on Farmtario.