Online tools are available to help pulse growers work their way through a number of key management decisions. Here are a few dedicated to the prairie provinces.
Saskatchewan
There’s an online tool for lentil growers who are wondering if they are at risk of aphanomyces root rot in their fields.
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The Aphanomyces Risk Evaluation App (AREA) uses satellite and drone-based imagery to harvest and analyze data that can predict aphanomyces in lentils. It offers a history of every field on the Prairies going back 13 years.
The system was developed by the Agronomic Crop Imaging Lab in collaboration with the Interaction Lab at the University of Saskatchewan under professor Steve Shirtliffe.
“I think it’s a great way to manage your pulses on fields where you think aphanomyces could be a problem,” said Dale Risula, provincial specialist for pulses, forages and specialty crops, with the Saskatchewan agriculture ministry.
The free app can be found at cropagronomyusask.users.earthengine.app/view/aphanomyces-risk-evaluation-app-area-v2.
Alberta
The Alberta Pulse Growers Agronomy and RVT app gives pulse producers an opportunity to search regional variety trial (RVT) data relevant to their soil zones. It also offers the latest news and agronomy information from Alberta Pulse Growers.
The app is available for free download on iTunes and Google Play. RVT information can also be found at albertapulservt.com.
Manitoba
Dennis Lange, the pulse and soybean specialist with Manitoba Agriculture, recommends Foliar Fungicide Decision Making in Peas, found on the Manitoba Pulse and Soybeans Growers website at manitobapulse.ca.
Lange describes the sub-site as a “decision-making tree” that helps pulse growers make growing and spraying decisions. It directs to a fungicide decision worksheet for managing mycosphaerella blight in field peas.
The worksheet encourages producers to assign a numerical score to categories such as crop canopy, leaf wetness/humidity/dew at noon, the five-day weather forecast and symptoms on pea plants.
If the total score is below 65, users are encouraged to revisit the field in a few days and reassess.
If the field is scoring above 65 but disease is not present, conditions are suitable for disease development. The producer is urged to revisit the field in a few days to catch any developing symptoms early.
Visit www.manitobapulse.ca/2019/03/foliar-fungicide-decision-making-in-peas/ to access the site directly.
