Snow has finally hit most of the Prairies, making thoughts of insect infestations seem a distant mirage to many farmers.
But if the El Nino that brought the warmest December on record to many regions rebuilds, farmers could be in for a dry spring and that could mean more grasshopper and flea beetles for the eastern prairies.
“My biggest worry is grasshoppers this year because we had quite a high number in the fall and we had good conditions for egg laying and embryo development,” said John Gavloski, extension entomologist with Manitoba Agriculture.
Read Also
Bio-fumigation may become new use for mustard
Mustard is great on hot dogs, but innovators in Western Canada have developed a new mustard variety for a different market — bio-fumigation.
He said a dry, warm spring would allow the hoppers to emerge and grow quickly.
Doug Billet, of Saskatchewan Agriculture, said grasshopper numbers in that province are expected to be fairly light, as they were in 1997.
Gavloski suggested farmers closely monitor their fields in May to watch for hoppers. If there is a problem, it will usually develop first at the edge of fields.
Control in spring is less costly because of the smaller area to be sprayed and lower concentration of insecticide needed to kill young hoppers.
Gavloski also said that flea beetle numbers in Manitoba were higher in fall surveys than they had been in recent years. They are up a little in Saskatchewan also.
“They are much more active when it is hot and dry and they do a lot more feeding. We had a hot, dry August and they were very active and so were more noticeable.”
That made it seem there were more flea beetles, but still nowhere near the infestation levels of the late 1980s and early 1990s.
“I don’t think it is cause for concern, but what it does say is that farmers should be out in their fields right after they plant (looking for evidence of the pests),” he said.
Flea beetles damage canola in the first two weeks of plant development.
Using seed treated with an insecticide and fungicide gives six to seven days of control.
A granular insecticide incorporated at seeding gives about four weeks of protection – enough to shield seedlings until they are out of danger.
Gavloski wouldn’t recommend using a granular insecticide, considering the flea beetle levels he saw this fall.
“But that could vary from region to region. Some farmers might have seen high levels and they might want to (use a granular insecticide),” he said.
Using air seeder
A news release from Cyanamid, maker of Counter 5G insecticide, said it has received questions about whether the product can be used with air seeders.
It said the effectiveness of the treatment depends on the width of the opener – narrow is better than wide.
If wider openers are employed, use the upper end of the recommended application rate on the label, the release said.
