Wheat stem sawfly forecast
The wheat stem sawfly forecast map is available on Alberta Agriculture’s website.
It predicts that the risk of economically significant sawfly populations will be limited to a few areas next year.
Insect management specialists look at four spots inside wheat fields after harvest and count the number of stems that are intact and the number that have been cut by the sawfly. This gives forecasters a percentage cut and a sense of what to expect for the following year.
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The forecast calls for low numbers, especially in the traditional areas such as the Municipal District of Acadia, the County of Forty Mile and the Special Areas, although individual fields may vary.
It found a hot spot with potential yield losses in the eastern portion of Willow Creek and the western portion of Lethbridge counties.
The insect was also found in Flagstaff County.
Wheat midge survey map
Alberta Agriculture has used samples to create a new wheat midge survey map. It shows a couple of residual hot spots for the insect, but generally the numbers are low.
The department took soil cores from more than 300 wheat fields, washed the midge cocoons out of the soil with specialized screens and looked at the samples under a microscope.
Alberta Agriculture takes at least five soil samples per county from wheat-heavy counties and a few less samples from less prevalent areas.
The survey has found that wheat midge numbers are at their lowest because of recent years of dry conditions.
The forecast map is available on the department’s website.
Canola trial data available
Small-plot data on canola seed varieties are now available in the 2015 Canola Performance Trials booklet.
The performance trials were conducted on more than 25 small-plot sites across the Prairies last year. The booklet contains results from short, medium and long season zones with yield and agronomic performance. It also has gross revenue for each variety and location.
The booklet provides information about production practices, as well as comparative data on leading canola varieties and newly introduced varieties.
The program is funded by the Alberta Canola Producers Commission, SaskCanola and the Manitoba Canola Growers Association. Seed companies paid their own entry fees.
Sheep chair re-acclaimed
Phil Kolodychuk, a sheep farmer from Bluesky, Alta., has been re-acclaimed chair of the Canadian Sheep Federation for a third consecutive term.
This is Kolodychuk’s sixth year on the CSF board of directors.
The executive committee also includes vice-chair Rob Scott, a sheep producer from Brandford, Ont., Barbara Johnstone-Grimmer from Pender Island, B.C., and Herman Bouw of Dugald, Man.
For more information, call 888-684-7739 or email info@cansheep.ca.
