Fall Review of Winter Canola Fields and Expectations for Overwintering

This article was written by Meghan Moran (OMAFRA) and Sydney Meloche (AAFC Harrow) Winter canola fields across Essex, Chatham-Kent, Wellington, Hamilton-Wentworth, Haldimand and Niagara have been assessed in fall of 2018. Approximately 900 acres have been scouted in 20 fields. The goal is to take observations on plant populations and plant size in the fall, […]

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Grubs and Slugs and Wireworms…OH MY!

Despite all this rain, pests are still doing quite well out there, as long as they have something to eat.  We had a lot of snow cover this winter which has helped insulate any insects that overwinter and the cool wet soils are helping these soil pests remain active.   Some are just waiting for their […]

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Moist Soils Brings Forth Different Kinds of Pests

Gaps in the stand are starting to show this week.  Aside from the typical culprits, moist soils can promote the less often accused. Millipedes are typically a beneficial arthropod that breaks down crop debris and decaying plant material.  However, in the last few years, we’ve been seeing more direct feeding by them.  What is happening?  […]

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Slugs Keep Feeding

I’m getting quite a few calls about slugs taking out soybean plantings not once but sometimes twice in the same field.  It has been an ideal spring for slugs with all of this wet cool weather.   And last fall was wet too, which helped all those slugs lay eggs and survive in these problem fields.  Unfortunately there […]

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Not much happening yet

Since there is not much crop up yet to spot feeding injury on, there really is not much happening yet on the insect front.  However, anyone that did push planting and planted into too wet or cool soils, or deep planted may start seeing some issues when the crops starts to emerge.  Millipedes and slugs […]

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