This week we share the prairie-wide risk maps to prepare for the 2019 growing season and we continue to evolve how the wind trajectory data is available.
Happy Easter!
Questions or problems accessing the contents of this Weekly Update? Please e-mail either Dr. Meghan Vankosky or Jennifer Otani. Past “Weekly Updates” can be accessed on our Weekly Update page.
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) and Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) have been working together to study the potential of trajectories for monitoring insect movements since the late 1990s.
In a continuing effort to produce timely information, the wind trajectory reports will be available both DAILY and WEEKLY:
DAILY REPORTS, as they can be generated, will be put up as a downloadable PDF file on this page.
Economically significant insect pests are monitored across the Canadian prairies each year, thanks to extensive networks of collaborators and cooperators. In 2018, that effort culminated in 5764 survey stops across Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and the BC Peace!
Here’s what’s included in the PDF file:
Average tempature, average precipitation, and modeled soil moisture for 2018.
A series of geospatial maps are included for each of the target species; the current map is followed by the previous 4 years.
For some species, the geospatial maps represent 2018 distributions used to infer risk in the coming 2019 growing season. Data is included for bertha armyworm, cabbage seedpod weevil, pea leaf weevil, wheat stem sawfly and diamondback moth.
For wheat midge and grasshoppers, the geospatial maps forecast or predict expected populations or risk for the 2019 growing season.
These maps help the agricultural industry prepare to manage insect pests across the prairies and helps growers make crop choices and anticipate scouting priorities within their growing region. From May to July, the Weekly Updates will provide in-season updates, predictive model outputs plus scouting tips and links to relevant information.
Thank you to the many people who monitor each growing season!
In 2018, swede midge pheromone traps were deployed at 41 sites across the Prairie region of Canada to monitor adult populations of this brassica pest. Of the 41 trap sites, 16 were located in Alberta, 19 in Saskatchewan (where positive swede midge identifications were made in 2007 and 2009), and 6 in Manitoba.
None of the traps were positive for swede midge in 2018.
We are grateful to all of the producers, agronomists, and cooperators who participated in the 2018 swede midge monitoring project. Without your assistance, we could not have supported such a thorough and widespread pheromone monitoring program.
We also extend our thanks to Jonathon Williams for organizing the program, distributing trapping materials, and processing returned sticky cards for adult swede midge.
Because of the serious threat that swede midge poses to canola production, it is vital that monitoring for swede midge continues across the Prairies. At this time, plans are being made for the 2019 swede midge monitoring program. We hope that we can count on your support and cooperation in 2019.
At this time, plans are being made for the 2019 swede midge monitoring program. Agrologists or growers interested in performing weekly monitoring in 2019 are encouraged to contact Jonathon Williams, Boyd Mori, or Meghan Vankosky for more information.
