Grass sawflies clipping heads in Ontario wheat
June 16, 2010 -There are numerous reports in the extreme southwestern part of Ontario that grass flies are doing damage to wheat crops. Some damage has been attributed to armyworm but sawflies are said to be of particular concern. READ MORE
Flea beetles an emerging problem in Ontario canola
May 26, 2010 -The recent hot weather across Ontario has created the opportunity for flea beetles to flourish in canola fields in the province, particularly around New Liskeard and in parts of the Bruce Peninsula. In addition to a circular from OMAFRA, there is also a link to a guide from Syngenta. READ MORE
Managing scald and resistance breakdown
Researchers are starting to observe changes in the two main barley leaf disease pathogens, scald and net blotch. These pathogens are not static and are adapting to the farming system being imposed on individual fields. This can put stable disease management and genetic resistance of varieties at risk.
Tank-mix cereal herbicides and fungicides with caution
The idea sounds good: tank-mixing a fungicide and herbicide to do a one-shot weed and disease control application. The trouble is, says Kelly Turkington, research scientist at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada at Lacombe, Alberta, the application timings when the most benefit can be derived from the products do not often match. The timing is either too early for disease control, or too late for weed control. “You need to apply the fungicide to the leaves you want to protect, but the herbicide needs to be applied much earlier to help reduce weed competition,” he explains.
Resistant weeds ratchet-up control
May 25, 2010 -The article may mention controlling weeds in cotton but the principle of weed resistance applies to all crops, in all sections of Canada and the US. Hence the need to heed the advice of researchers for better weed control, from the use of glyphosate to scouting and other stewardship measures. READ MORE
Farmers speak out in support of atrazine
May 5, 2010 -Last week, several US farm groups voiced their support for atrazine, travelling to Washington to counter a series of hearings being held by the Environmental Protection Agency, with the potential to revisit the registration and continued use of the herbicide, in spite of its safety record and efficacy. READ MORE
Weed resistance to herbicides a disturbing trend
Agricultural producers are facing the serious issue of escalating weed resistance to herbicides. The numbers of resistant weed species, locations affected, and herbicide modes of action involved are all on the rise. Compounding the problem, some weeds have developed resistance to multiple modes of action, making their control that much more difficult, if not impossible.
Controlling Colorado potato beetle: 2010 outlook
Colorado potato beetle pressure was relatively low in Canada in 2009
compared with some years, but growers must stay aware to both control
populations in their fields and effectively manage developing
resistance to Group 4 insecticides.
