Science

Canola flower midge found across the Prairies

Science Edition: Integrated Pest Management
KEY RESULT: The newly discovered canola flower midge, C. brassicola, may be a species native to the Prairies. It is found across the canola-growing region, but population density, for the most part, is low and the midge has not had a significant impact on yield. This midge causes flower galls that result in aborted pods....
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Science

Pheromone found for trapping canola flower midge

Science Edition: Integrated Pest Management
KEY RESULT: Researchers identified a sex pheromone used by female canola flower midge. The sex pheromone can be produced synthetically and is highly attractive to males in the field. This identification will facilitate development of a pheromone-based monitoring system for C. brassicola. PROJECT TITLE, PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: “Development of a pheromone-based monitoring system for a newly...
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Science

Hot weather can increase swede midge damage

Science Edition: Integrated Pest Management
KEY RESULT: Swede midge, an invasive species, causes costly damage to canola in Ontario – but not on the Prairies at this time. Modeling found that when a high number of adults coincided with days of high temperatures, egg laying would increase and result in higher damage levels in the current year and outbreak-level populations...
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Science

Pest network tracks crop-damaging insects

Science Edition: Integrated Pest Management
KEY RESULT: The Prairie Pest Monitoring Network (PPMN) provides forecasts, risk maps and monitoring protocols for crop pest insects across Western Canada. It also provides a free weekly update. Anyone can subscribe at prairiepest.ca. PROJECT TITLE, PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: “Coordinated surveillance, forecasting and risk warning systems for field crop insect pests of the Prairie ecosystem,” Jennifer...
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Science

Study compares plant and seed dry down for pre-harvest options

Science Edition: Harvest Management
KEY RESULT: This three-year study frequently showed benefits to using pre-harvest herbicide and desiccant options as tools to improve straight combining results. However, results show that going without a pre-harvest herbicide or desiccant is a potentially viable option, especially for early seeded, reasonably uniform and weed-free fields where a hybrid with good pod shatter tolerance...
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