SASKATOON – Wheat midge cocoons are lying dormant in the soil of most cropland in Saskatchewan and Manitoba, just waiting for good weather, pest experts say.
A wheat midge survey map released by the federal agriculture department shows a band of lightly infested land covering most of the cropland in Manitoba and the majority of the Saskatchewan parkland and dark brown soil zone. South of a line running from Unity to Estevan the midge is not expected to be a problem.
But some extreme infestations could occur around Winnipeg, Brandon, Melville, Weyburn and in a wide area between Regina and Saskatoon. In some of those areas, midge cocoon density is more than 1,200 cocoons per square metre, double the level at which producers are warned to get worried.
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The forecast suggests farmers in zones where wheat midge cocoons are highly concentrated should learn control techniques and be ready if there is an infestation. Populations vary widely field to field, so producers will have to physically check crops daily during the heading stage.
Properly timed spraying is the best control for midge. More information is available from local provincial agriculture department agrologists.
