Alberta Agriculture’sCrop Production Guide,also known as theBlue Book,is now available.
The publication is updated annually and provides producers with the most recent information on pesticide products.
The most significant change for 2011 is the presence of a new format for all pesticide entries.
The new format allows producers to select appropriate pesticide products for their field crops.
With the new format, more of the information is presented in tables.
This format allows users to more easily determine the crop type, target pest and the appropriate pesticide rate.
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Information on pre-harvest intervals, field scouting and application tips are also included in most of the tables.
Format changes were also made to selector charts to make them easier to use. These are used to evaluate pesticide options available for weed, disease or insect control.
Several new products have been added to the updated guide for this year including:
• herbicides: newly registered products mainly include active ingredients that are already available through previously registered products or new mixes of existing products. New mixes typically provide additional weed control options;
• fungicides: products registered for fusarium head blight suppression in cereal crops, sclerotinia control including a soil applied bio-fungicide and cereal leaf diseases;
• seed treatments: addition of a product for suppression of wireworm in cereals;
• insecticides: new products that control a wide spectrum of insects in potatoes.
Copies of the 2011 Crop Protection Guide can be ordered through Alberta Agriculture’s Publication Office, 800-292-5697.
Other inquiries about theCrop Protection Guidecan be directed to the Ag-Info Centre at 310-FARM.
