2023 Saskatchewan Clubroot Map. (submitted photo/Government of Saskatchewan)

By Alice McFarlane

Saskatchewan Clubroot Map

Saskatchewan clubroot case map released

Jan 9, 2023 | 4:24 PM

MELFORT, Sask. – The number of confirmed cases of clubroot in Saskatchewan has increased.

The 2023 Saskatchewan Clubroot Distribution Map outlined the rural municipalities where clubroot has been identified.

Clubroot is a soil-borne disease that can cause significant yield loss when pathogen levels are high, a susceptible crop is grown and when environmental conditions are favourable.

Over 500 fields were inspected as part of the clubroot monitoring program. In total, 39 soil samples were submitted for laboratory analysis and SaskCanola covered the cost of each test.

Visible clubroot symptoms were recorded in two more commercial canola fields and the clubroot pathogen was detected in four new fields. Clubroot symptoms have been confirmed in 82 commercial fields while the clubroot pathogen has been detected through DNA-based testing in 42 fields where there were no visible symptoms.

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Agriculture Minister David Marit said the results show the importance of continuing to monitor and manage clubroot.

“Clubroot can impact our producers, landowners and the province’s strong canola market,” Marit said. “This map helps the ministry to track and manage clubroot while preventing it from reaching other fields.”

All producers with visible clubroot symptoms or fields with the presence of the pathogen have been notified. The specific land locations are kept confidential and not shared publicly to protect the producer’s privacy.

Land locations are only shared with the appropriate RM if they have clubroot-specific bylaws enacted and visible symptoms have been confirmed.

SaskCanola Research Committee Keith Fournier said the organization funds province-wide disease testing to ensure a good understanding of the regions where the disease is present.

“This way canola growers can make the best management decisions for their farm to prevent the spread of this invasive soil-borne disease,” Fournier said.

The Ministry of Agriculture, SaskCanola, Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation and plant health officers, implemented the clubroot monitoring program to understand the distribution and severity of the disease in the province and where it has been already detected.

The program includes in-field surveillance, free on-farm soil DNA testing for producers and agrologists and encouraging clubroot reporting from producers and industry.

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alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @farmnewsNOW