Now that most crops are in the ground, it’s a matter of waiting and watching to see if insect problems will develop.
The accompanying map shows there were heavy infestations of wheat midge cocoons in eastern Saskatchewan and western Manitoba that could spell trouble under the right conditions.
But the early spring, which allowed farmers to seed early, might mean wheat will flower before the midge has matured to the point it can do damage.
Insect specialists warn farmers to monitor fields as soon as the wheat comes out of the boot stage.
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The best time to check is in the calm of the evening when it is still mild. That’s when the females are most active.
One midge adult for every four or five wheat heads usually warrants spraying.
Grasshoppers
The federal and prairie agriculture departments indicate grasshoppers are not expected to be a significant problem in most places, but there are hot spots and numbers will increase this year.
A report from the Agriculture Canada research centre at Lethbridge says grasshopper eggs collected in April were in good condition and with a warm spring, the pests will hatch early.
The best time to survey fields for newly hatched grasshoppers will be between May 30 and June 15. Older grasshoppers, in fields in which they are found in significant numbers, will cause damage in late June and early July, the report says.
The highest levels of grasshopper infestations are expected to occur along the Saskatchewan – Alberta border. In Saskatchewan, severe to very severe infestations are predicted for areas between Lloydminster and North Battleford, and moderate to severe infestations are expected in the Cut Knife and Alsask-Eatonia-Fox Valley areas.
Problem areas
In Alberta, high densities of grasshoppers were found during breeding season in parts of the municipal districts of Acadia and Westlock, special areas Oyen and Consort and in Red Deer County.
More moderate densities with scattered hot spots were noted in municipal districts of Taber, Kneehill, Provost and Bonnyville and the counties of Barrhead and Vulcan.
The report says field margins, fence lines, road sides and crops grown on stubble must be watched when hatching begins.
In most crops, infestation of more than seven to 10 grasshoppers per sq. metre will justify spraying.
Infestation of as few as five hoppers per sq. metre in canola and two in lentils can warrant spraying.
