Wheat midge are a problem in much of the Prairies and next year producers may seek wheat varieties that can limit damage from those insects. Todd Hyra, western business manager for SeCan, urged producers to note its CWRS variety AAC Oakman VB, which carries tolerance to both midge and sawfly, but it is not available […] Read more
Tag Archives crop pests
Bayer launches VT4PRO at Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show 2024
Sytem includes Bt protein and RNAi, giving three modes of action above ground, two below ground
Glacier FarmMedia – Bayer CropScience is bringing a new weapon to the fight against corn rootworm and other yield-robbing insects. VT4PRO includes RNAi-based traits at the Bt protein, and incorporates both above- and below-ground traits to control pests. It delivers the latest in corn rootworm defense below the soil, and adds comprehensive above-ground control. Related […] Read more
Weather, pests cause headaches for farmers
Widespread heavy rain late last week expected to help some and hinder others as a major system hit western Prairies
REGINA — June threw a little bit of everything at Prairie crops except for the heat they need to advance. Rain continued to fall last week in regions that have already had enough and others that still need more. On June 28, heavy rains were reported through central Alberta and Saskatchewan agricultural areas, flooding social […] Read more
Wireworms remain persistent pest for producers
Nestled in the soil and hard to kill, this insect is a constant headache for growers across Western Canada
Glacier FarmMedia – They’ll survive things that would kill other crop pests. Some species will eat each other. If food is scarce, they might reverse molt to become smaller and harder to starve. They’ll go after grain crops, potatoes, onions, carrots, strawberries or almost any other field crop. Their tendency to feast on germinating seeds […] Read more
Ground squirrel survey monitors damage
Glacier FarmMedia – Richardson’s ground squirrel damage has frustrated Saskatchewan farmers for years. Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Agriculture recently conducted a survey of farmers to better understand where Richardson’s ground squirrels are present, the methods producers use to deal with them, and which approaches are most effective. The online survey was conducted this past December and […] Read more
Canola council urges vigilance with flea beetles
Flea beetle damage was relatively low last year compared to the crushing pressure of previous seasons, but producers can’t afford complacency. “There was less foliar insecticide used for flea beetles than the previous years, and maybe less flea beetles to some degree, but there were still a lot of flea beetles out there,” said Manitoba […] Read more
Potential exists for high spring ’hopper hatch
Latest forecast indicates migratory grasshoppers likely to emerge in a large cluster this spring rather than more gradually
MEDICINE HAT — The number of crop-damaging grasshoppers has been rising in southern and eastern Alberta since 2021 and conditions favour the trend to continue, according to the latest forecast. The warm, dry fall and early winter may have created a situation in which most southern Alberta grasshoppers have entered diapause, a type of hibernation […] Read more
Warm December delighted grain beetles; farmers not so much
CALGARY — Unusually warm weather that lasted into early January prompted a Saskatchewan farmer to warn producers about hot spots and insects in grain bins. “I’m hearing that more and more farmers are finding bugs,” said Michael Reimer, who primarily grows durum wheat near Eston, Sask. “I mean, a year ago, we were at minus […] Read more
Global investment in agricultural technology cools off
On the positive side, the number of venture capital firms in Canada specializing in agriculture and agri-food is growing
Two years ago, investors and venture capital firms were dumping billions into agriculture and agri-food technology. Money was flowing toward start-up companies developing plant-based “meat”, biological control of crop pests, field sensors and technology to track food back to the farm. That’s just a partial list. To generalize, ag and food tech was hot. In […] Read more
Grasshopper numbers middle of the road; vary region to region
Grasshopper infestations across Alberta are patchy this year, following a cool April and scorching May with small pockets of moisture, according to a University of Lethbridge entomologist. The usual hotspot for grasshopper populations in southeastern Alberta got a late start compared to the rest of the province, said Dan Johnson. He cited a wet early […] Read more
