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Crop Protection Lab seeing issues with lack of moisture, diseases

Jul 12, 2018 | 10:00 AM

Last year’s dry weather is still causing issues for crops around the province, and diseases such as root rot are affecting growth this year as well.

That’s according to a recent report from the province’s Crop Production Laboratory. Manager Scott Hartley said the report was based on samples submitted by farmers, agrologists, and residents from locations around Saskatchewan. Hartley said the biggest culprits contributing to crop damage right now are disease and severe weather, but the carryover from herbicides is also an issue.

“Moisture is very helpful when helping break down the products,” Hartley told farmnewsNOW.

Hartley said hot weather stressed crops early on this year as well, but diseases such as wheat midge weren’t prevalent. Now that most areas have received some regular moisture, Hartley says diseases are becoming more of an issue.

“The dry conditions definitely knocked back a lot of issues,” he added. “As we got more moisture, we’re starting to see more disease issues.”

Samples of insects sent to the lab are also pointing to issues from Peritrechus convivus, or small red bugs that have become more common on crops, especially young canola plants. The bugs were troublesome over the 2017 growing season, but Hartley said other pests, including soft-winged flower beetles and white-margined burrower bugs, are more common.

Hartley said burrower bugs are more common in weeds such as nettles and mint, but added that overall, insects aren’t wreaking too much havoc on crops this season.

He said monitoring is ongoing for Bertha Armyworms, and weed surveys will begin soon. More than 100 samples have been sent to the lab so far this year, according to the report.

 

Charlene.tebbutt@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @CharleneTebbutt