Wind Trajectories

Ross Weiss, Owen Olfert, Serge Trudel and prairiepest_admin
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Week 1

THE WEEK OF MAY 9, 2016:  Wind trajectory data processing by AAFC-Saskatoon Staff began in April.  Reverse Trajectories track arriving air masses back to their point of origin while Forward Trajectories predict favourable winds expected to arrive across the Canadian Prairies for the week of May 9, 2016:

Reverse trajectories (RT)
Naicam, Regina, Tisdale (Saskatchewan) and Lethbridge, Beiseker (Alberta) had the first occurrences of Reverse Trajectories this week that originated from southwestern USA and /or Mexico.


Forward Trajectories (FT)
There are four forward trajectories from California and Texas that are predicted to cross the prairies over the next 5 days.  Below is a map of the sites from which the Forward Trajectories originated that crossed the prairies over the past month.


Review the 2016 Wind Trajectory Updates in PDF format.


Weather forecasts (7 day):
Winnipeg: https://weather.gc.ca/city/pages/mb-38_metric_e.html
Brandon: https://weather.gc.ca/city/pages/mb-52_metric_e.html
Saskatoon: https://weather.gc.ca/city/pages/sk-40_metric_e.html
Regina: https://weather.gc.ca/city/pages/sk-32_metric_e.html
Edmonton: https://weather.gc.ca/city/pages/ab-50_metric_e.html
Lethbridge: https://weather.gc.ca/city/pages/ab-30_metric_e.html
Grande Prairie: https://weather.gc.ca/city/pages/ab-31_metric_e.html

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Wind trajectories

Ross Weiss, Owen Olfert, Serge Trudel and prairiepest_admin
Categories
Week 1
2016 Wind Trajectories – High altitude air masses originate from southern locations and continuously move northerly to Canadian destinations.  Insect pest species such as Diamondback moth and Aster leafhoppers, traditionally unable to overwinter above the 49th parallel, can utilize these air masses in the spring to move north from Mexico and the United States (southern or Pacific northwest).  Data acquired from Environment Canada is compiled by Olfert et al. (AAFC-Saskatoon) to track and model spring high altitude air masses with respect to potential introductions of insect pests onto the Canadian prairies.  

Reverse Trajectories track arriving air masses back to their point of origin while Forward Trajectories predict favourable winds expected to arrive across the Canadian Prairies.

As of May 2, 2016, Reverse Trajectories (RTs) originating from Mexico and southwest USA have been arriving across the prairies:







Whereas Reverse Trajectories (RTs) originating from northwest USA have arrived over a greater area of the prairies with more RTs  arriving in Alberta and the BC Peace:



Wind trajectory data processing by AAFC-Saskatoon Staff began in April and those reports were posted for:
April 1-7, 2016
April 7-11, 2016
April 10-15, 2016
April 15-20, 2016
April 20-25, 2016

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Weekly Update – Diamondback moth

Scott Meers, Shelley Barkley and prairiepest_admin
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Week 1

Diamondback moth (Plutellidae: Plutella xylostella) – Pheromone traps attracting male Diamondback moths have been deployed across the prairies.  



Counts will be reported by the provincial staff in Manitoba and Saskatchewan soon.  Alberta Agriculture and Forestry has posted their live 2016 map reporting Diamondback moth pheromone trap interceptions.  A copy of the map (retrieved May 5, 2016) is below for reference.

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Weekly Update – Predicted Grasshopper Development

Jennifer Otani, Ross Weiss, Owen Olfert, David Giffen and Erl Svendsen
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Week 1

Grasshopper Simulation Model Output – The grasshopper simulation model will be used to monitor grasshopper development across the prairies. Weekly temperature data collected across the prairies is incorporated into the simulation model which calculates estimates of grasshopper development stages based on biological parameters for Melanoplus sanguinipes (Migratory grasshopper).  


Warm, dry conditions typically enhance grasshopper egg development.  The predicted mean embryological development of the migratory grasshopper (Orthoptera: Melanoplus sanguinipes) was 62% this week.  The greatest development was predicted to be in Alberta (note areas shaded orange).






Biological and monitoring information related to grasshoppers in field crops is posted by Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, Saskatchewan Agriculture, Alberta Agriculture and Forestry, the BC Ministry of Agriculture and the Prairie Pest Monitoring Network.  Also refer to the grasshopper pages within the new “Field Crop and Forage Pests and their Natural Enemies in Western Canada: Identification and management field guide” as an English-enhanced or French-enhanced version.
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Weekly Update – Welcome Back!

Jennifer Otani, Ross Weiss, David Giffen and Owen Olfert
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Week 1

The Weekly Update is back for the 2016 growing season in Blog form!


A downloadable PDF version of the complete Weekly Update for Week 1 (May 5, 2016) can be accessed here.




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Weekly Update – Weather synopsis

Ross Weiss, David Giffen, Owen Olfert and Erl Svendsen
Categories
Week 1

We begin with a synopsis of the weather situation starting with the map below which reflects the Accumulated Precipitation received during the winter (Nov 1, 2015 to Mar 31, 2016) across the prairies.



In terms of Percent of Average Precipitation received during the winter (Nov 1, 2015 to Mar 31, 2016), the map below confirms the lower levels of precipitation received across the prairies the past winter.  





Across the prairies, meteorological conditions have been warm and dry during April. The map below indicates the Average Temperatures across the prairies (April 1-30, 2016).



The map below reflects the Highest Temperatures occurring over the past 7 days across the prairies.


And the map below reflects the Lowest Temperatures occurring over the past 7 days across the prairies.

 Alberta has been particularly dry in April.  The map below reflects the Accumulated Precipitation (April 1-30, 2016).


The Accumulated Precipitation the past 7 days (i.e., April 27-May 3, 2016) is mapped below:

The maps above are all produced by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.  Growers may wish to bookmark the AAFC  Drought Watch webpage.  

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Weekly Update – Cereal leaf beetle predictions

Jennifer Otani, Owen Olfert, Erl Svendsen, David Giffen and Ross Weiss
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Week 1

Cereal leaf beetle (Chrysomelidae: Oulema melanopus)  – As of May 1, 2016, the Cereal leaf beetle (CLB) model indicates that oviposition is well underway at Lethbridge AB and Maple Creek SK. Oviposition is expected to begin this week near Swan River MB. Larval populations are predicted to peak in mid-June in southern Alberta and one to two weeks later at the Saskatchewan and Manitoba locations.


Predicted dates of peak emergence of CLB eggs and larvae are as follows:




A CLB update was posted last week on the Blog.


Fact sheets for CLB are published by the province of Alberta and by the Prairie Pest Monitoring Network.  Also access the Oulema melanopus page from the new “Field crop and forage pests and their natural enemies in western Canada – Identification and management field guide”.

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