(File photo/farmnewsNOW Staff)

By Alice McFarlane

Plant 2019

From seeding to flea beetles

May 30, 2019 | 4:22 PM

Farmers are getting closer to wrapping up seeding.

Ninety-two per cent of the crop is now in the ground from 73 per cent last week and well ahead of the five-year average of 83 per cent for this time of year. The southwest region is the most advanced 96 per cent

According to the Ministry of Agriculture crop report, topsoil moisture conditions continue to deteriorate due to strong winds and a lack of moisture. That’s not the case for the northeast.

Carrot River area farmer Dan Pihowich finished seeding on Sunday.

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“Seeding was really good; it was busy and hectic,” Pihowich said. “Moisture-wise, soil conditions were fantastic right around Carrot River. Some of our land up North was a little more wet and there are still a lot of guys battling to get the crop in but it seems to be drying up.”

“The ground was a lot cooler this spring so it was hard to sit still and wait. But we’re fortunate in the northeast. It’s one of the few areas with adequate moisture. The crops are taking off really good,” Pihowich said.

The next challenge will be with flea beetles.

“We’ve seen a shift in population of flea beetles. They’ve got the bright yellow stripe,” Pihowich said. “Insecticides on the seed aren’t as effective on them. They seem to be in really high populations. In drier conditions and hot days, the flea beetles really seem to be thriving especially on the canola that was seeded early.”

“We’re going to start spraying, if the wind goes down, later today, but for sure tomorrow. We’re seeing a lot of sprayers on the road right now. There’s quite a bit of flea beetles chewing on canola right now.”

Pihowich farms about 4,000 acres alongside his father Dale.

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alice.mcfarlane@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @AliceMcF