Lygus bug on flax.

Lygus bugs reach economic thresholds in canola fields

Manitoba Insect & Disease summary for July 27

Summary Insects: Lygus bugs around economic threshold levels have been noted in a few canola fields in eastern Manitoba. Banded sunflower moth adults have also been noted; late bud to early bloom stage is when sunflowers should be monitored for seed feeding insects like banded sunflower moth, Lygus bugs, and red sunflower seed weevils. Trace levels of soybean aphid have been found on soybeans near Fannystelle and Lac du Bonnet;

Manitoba’s fruit growers are expecting 2016 to tally good or better-than-average yields of strawberries, saskatoons, raspberries and cherries, despite persistent rain and lingering worries about a return of spotted wing drosophila.

Growers vigilant for fly that can devastate fruit crops

This season has had its share of disease and weather pressures, but above-average fruit crops are being reported

Manitoba’s fruit growers are keeping a close eye for signs of spotted wing drosophila, aiming to avoid the toll the tiny fly took on fruit crops last year. Some growers have already detected it and have applied an approved insecticide to combat against another infestation, provincial fruit crops specialist Anthony Mintenko said July 14. The


DuPont Pioneer seed dealer Dale Alderson of Intel Seed counts corn kernels to get an estimate of potential yield. As of last week Alderson was cautiously optimistic if all goes well Manitoba farmers could harvest a bumper corn crop this year. But as everyone knows, especially farmers much can happen between now and when the corn is in the bin.

VIDEO: Fingers crossed for a bumper corn crop this harvest

Yield potential is high following nearly ideal growing conditions 
so far this season, but it’s still a long way from the bin

It’s too soon to call it a bin buster, but Manitoba’s corn crop is poised to be one of the best in a decade. Barring an early frost and with continued good weather the crop could top the 10-year average of 117 bushels per acre, corn experts say. Breaking the record 133 bushels an acre

Manitoba Crop Report and Crop Weather report: Issue 15

Manitoba Crop Report and Crop Weather report: Issue 15

Conditions as of August 10, 2015

The 2015 harvest was slowed by the continuing wet conditions in Manitoba. However, some harvest operations did occur where field and weather conditions allowed. Winter wheat yields are ranging from 55 to 90 bushels per acre, with good quality. Swathing or preharvest management of the earliest-seeded spring cereal and canola crops continues. The return to

Lygus bug on a canola pod

Fusarium levels low, soybean aphid numbers increasing

Manitoba crop insect and disease update for August 4, 2015

Plant Pathogens: Levels of fusarium head blight are being reported as low in many areas. Increased levels of mycosphaerella are being reported in later seeded field peas in the southwest as a result of the cooler and wetter conditions. Some soybean fields are showing increasing damage due to excess moisture and subsequent root rots. Weather conditions have been conducive for


Manitoba Crop Report and Crop Weather report: Issue 14

Manitoba Crop Report and Crop Weather report: Issue 14

Conditions as of August 4, 2015

Winter wheat and fall rye harvest is underway in Manitoba. Preliminary reports indicate winter wheat yields range from 60 to 85 bu/acre, with low levels of fusarium damaged kernels in harvested samples. There are also a few fields of spring wheat, barley and field peas harvested last week. Swathing or preharvest applications in the earliest-seeded spring

White head from wheat stem maggot (l), and larva of wheat stem maggot.

Manitoba crop insect and disease update

Summary of conditions as of July 28, 2015

Plant Pathogens: At the Crop Diagnostic Lab there are canola plants coming in with blackleg and sclerotinia. Some soybeans have been showing root rot – rhizoctonia and fusarium. Some sunflower fields are showing basal and mid-stalk sclerotinia. Some flax fields are showing pasmo lesions on stem and leaves. Insects: Levels of armyworms are starting to decline in some fields as

Manitoba crop insect and disease update

Manitoba crop insect and disease update

Conditions as of July 21, 2015

Levels of armyworms are starting to decline in some fields as they turn to pupae. Currently, scout for grasshoppers around field edges. In corn, now is the time to be scouting for European corn borer. Also consider scouting for aphids in cereals and pulse crops. Pulse Crops Soybean aphids: Soybean aphids have just started to show up in


Manitoba Crop Report and Crop Weather report: Issue 12

Manitoba Crop Report and Crop Weather report: Issue 12

Conditions as of July 20, 2015

Another week of generally good growing conditions continues to advance crops across Manitoba. Localized thunderstorms did result in significant precipitation amounts in some areas of the province, while other areas would still benefit from additional moisture. Disease pressure and insect activity continues to be monitored as the growing season progresses. Click here for the Crop Weather Report for

Traps to monitor adult moths of bertha armyworm are currently only at levels suggesting low risk of damage.

Manitoba crop insect and disease update

Conditions as of July 14, 2015

Some localized higher populations of armyworms and grasshoppers are present. So scouting is encouraged, although in many cases populations are noticeable but not economical. Armyworms continue to be found in many cereal fields. In many fields they are noticeable but not economical, however some fields have had levels greater than the 4 or more larvae/ft2