Category Archives: Insects

Wireworms

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WirewormMost of the damage that this pest causes is done in the early spring; this is when the larvae are near the surface of the soil. The larvae will feed on the germinating seeds of cereal and potato crops or seedlings. They will also tunnel through the plant which could potentially kill it or cause disease. The color of the wireworm varies, but they are usually yellow or white. The distinguishing feature is the pincher on the tail end of the wireworm.

Adult wireworms, called click beetles, generally overwinter in the soil and will come out later in April and early May; when the temperature gets close to 10 degrees. The females will then lay their eggs and the larvae will hatch about 3-8 weeks later. This is when the larvae will start terrorizing your crops.

Wireworms, larvae stage, live in the soil for many years and can survive adverse conditions. Wireworm stage lasts anywhere from 4-11 years, depending on food availability. They will hibernate in the soil 5-25cm belong ground level. Once fully grown, which is usually July, the larvae will pupate. Adults however, don’t emerge until the next spring. The females can lay between 200-400 eggs between late May and Early June and then the life cycle begins again.

From Ashley Fitzpatrick, Crop Scout with McRae Holdings

 

Cutworms Are Out!

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cutwormsNEWS FLASH – We found cutworms today! When you are out looking at your fields, especially your winter seeded crops, make sure to take a close look under the trash cover. These fellows were found in a Triticale field north of Coaldale, AB.

Cutworms are named for their annoying habit of cutting down seedlings, usually right at or near the soil surface. They vary in color and markings according to species, but a common behavior of cutworms is their tendency to curl into a letter C shape when disturbed. Cutworms generally overwinter as larvae, so they’re ready to feed as soon as temperatures warm and the crops are planted and start emerging. By late spring, the caterpillars have tunneled into the soil to pupate. Adult moths emerge in summer, when they mate and lay eggs. A singe female may lay hundreds of eggs, often on weeds in the crop. The new generation of larvae feed until temperatures drop low enough to send them into hibernation for winter.

Please, check your fields! If you are not sure what you are looking for, the team here at McRae Holdings would be happy to check things out for you.

From Amanda Archibald, Agronomist with McRae Holdings.

Pulse Crops. Could they fit on Your Farm?

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One topic that continues to be talked about among many producers is rotation. The most common concern is the effects of tight rotations. Could tight rotations create negative consequences or long lasting problems in producer’s fields? Are there additional costs by keeping tight rotations? Do we create more disease and insect risks by following a tight rotation? What options are there to improve our rotations that are profitable? One option could be to include a pulse crop into your rotation. There are many biased opinions and common misconceptions regarding growing pulse crops. The most common misconception about pulse crops is that they are a low or no input crop. This is completely not true. Pulse crops should be treated as fairly as your cereal or oil seed crops. They require strong nutrient programs as well as watching for bugs and disease closely. At McRae’s, we have seen very positive results in pulse crops when we have treated them as equally important as the other crops we grow. Strong fertility programs, regular scouting and disease awareness could lead to some high yielding and highly profitable returns.

At time of writing, we are experiencing some extremely strong prices for both peas and lentils. Currently #2 mid to large green peas are trading around $14.00 per bushel. Yellow peas are trading around $9.00 per bushel. Green lentils trade around 24 cents per pound which equals $14.40 per bushel and red lentils trade around 22 cents per pound or $13.20 per bushel. The pulse market can be very frustrating at times which can lead to large spikes and huge drops in pricing. Often, increases in seeded acreage and slow world demand can create huge decreases in pricing turning producers off from planting pulse crops.

The key is to keep a strong fertility program while growing peas or lentils and it will increase your yield potential. Peas and lentils require strong amounts of phosphorus, potassium and sulfur. We have also seen positive results by adding boron and calcium to the seed row. Soil testing is recommended prior to growing peas or lentils to be sure proper nutrients are applied. Recommended seed placed blends will be similar to those required for cereals or oil seeds. Next thing to decide is whether growing a pulse crop is right for you. Perhaps, the best way to decide whether a pulse crop could fit in your operation is to make a pros and cons list.

 

Let’s start with the pros:

• Another option to include in rotation.

• Peas and lentils fix their own nitrogen, which can help reduce nitrogen fertilizer costs for the farm.

• It’s a good crop for the land and good to follow with a cereal which can also reduce nitrogen needs.

• New varieties with better disease tolerance and chemical options.

• New varieties with potential of high yields.

• Strong prices which can result in good returns per acre.

• Lentils have good drought tolerance and can be grown on almost any soil type.

• Peas and lentils have good cold weather and early season frost tolerance which means they can be seeded early.

• New marketing options make it easier to sell product.

• Desiccating is encouraged which can help rid the farm of unwanted winter annuals.

• Newer varieties have stronger genetics with reduced lodging.

• New markets opening all the time.

 

Here are some cons:

• Require frequent scouting.

• A high moisture seasons could lead to high disease pressure.

• Strong potential for lodging.

• Lentils are a short growing crop and can be difficult to harvest.

• Pea straw can get damp in the evening making it almost impossible to harvest after dusk.

• Fluctuating markets, which may require long storage time.

• Require more effort to market.

• Serious disease pressure can lead to severely reduced yields.

• Trash can be difficult to manage and create issues in the spring.

• Can be infected by sclerotinia.

 

There are obviously more pros and cons to growing pulse crops and those are things that have to be decided on an individual basis. Most producers could adapt quickly to including pulse crops into a rotation. My suggestion would be to try a quarter or two to start, keeping the risk low. Another suggestion would be to consult your agronomist about varieties and fertility advice to maximize your yield potential. Other advice to producers would be to watch markets closely and reduce risk by over planting pulses in their rotation. We at McRae Holdings are prepared to help producers manage their operations and offer advice on a large variety cropping options, including pulses.

If you have any further questions about growing pulses feel free to contact the McRae agronomy team.

Happy farming. Daniel Konopelski.

 

Let’s Talk Crop Plans

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Having a fully planned out crop plan on January 1 of the year may be a difficult thing for most producers to do, but it is important to plan early. Why you may ask? Planning ahead has always led to successful execution of a said plan when the time has arrived. We like to talk about crop plans early so that when the drills hit the field, we are not asking the question, so what are we doing on this field? Here are some helpful tips when making your crop plans for this upcoming 2013 crop year.

- Rotation. When making crop plans crop rotation can be one of the most important components to take into consideration. Not only is it for disease pressure, but includes chemical rotation as well. Certain weeds are starting to have chemical resistance issues so rotating chemicals can be as important if not more important than crop rotation. Disease pressure is another reason for rotating crops. Tight rotations of canola for example could lead to possible disease pressures under the right conditions.

- Straw residue. We like to mention this following a big production year because when there is excess straw and chaff residue our nitrogen requirements go up. We will require more N to help break down remaining residue, which is an important factor prior to seeding.

- Seed selection. We like to discuss seed selection in advance because good seed is important for establishing a healthy crop. Sending away seed samples for germ and vigor tests as well as a disease screen is also very important. We want to give our crop the best chance we can right at the start. Also, proper seed selection can be important if your area has disease challenges such as club root, black leg, stripe rust or powdery mildew, just to name a few.

- Seeding timing. Proper planting timing is very important for all crops. For producers that are planting multiple types of crops proper seeding timing is important to plan prior to hitting the field. Some crops should be planted early while others can wait till a bit later. A proper seeding plan will save time and help prepare you for potential weather events or delays.

- Budget. Planning a budget early is very important. With fluctuating markets for grains and fertilizer having a budget plan laid out can help make important seeding decisions. With a carefully planned budget it may make sense to change up certain seeding plans. A full budget would include the following costs: seed, seed treatment, fertilizer, herbicide, fungicide, insecticide, planting, chemical application, irrigation, harvest, custom work, taxes, rent lease or land payments, labor, fuel, equipment, and any other fixed or variable expenses. Knowing these and planning for these expenses ahead of time will prepare you for any surprises.

- Soil tests. Planning for fertilizer requirements is a very important factor in a crop plan. A properly taken soil test can be invaluable for making fertilizer recommendations. We encourage producers to take soil samples so we know what amounts of nutrients may be required. Remember it all starts at the roots.

By taking these points into consideration we can begin making our 2013 crop plans. We invite producers that are having a difficult time making crop plans to contact any member of the agronomy team at McRae holdings to assist them. A new year means new opportunities and all of us at McRae’s wish you all the best in the 2013 crop year. Happy farming.

Dan Konopelski

 

High Risk of Stored Grain Insect Infestation

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Insects can be a problem at anytime in stored grain, but the risk is higher when grain is harvested hot. Warm harvest conditions mean that grain went into the bins hot and got hotter in storage due to grain respiration, unless storage is aerated. Under these hot summer harvest conditions grain beetles were flying and even at low initial infestations levels, these pests can build rapidly. The same or greater risk exists for grain stored from the previous year. When bulk seed temperature fall below 15C beetle reproduction ceases. If the grain was infected then cools off your problem is not solved. It may be rejected upon delivery. Cooling the grain below 15C keeps it safe, but if infected the grain must be kept below -5C for 12 weeks to disinfest the grain. If the grain is going for feed, just keep it cool and feed. Another way to disinfest your grain is to fumigate it however you will need a license to do so as there are some risks involved and fumigation does not work below 5C.

Grain temperatures and moisture content are the keys to preventing or facilitating grain storage problems. Dry cool grain deters grain beetle and fungal development, while warm moist conditions promote them.

The main stored grain insect pest on the prairies is the rusty grain beetle. It is very small and one would wonder why it is so important. Simply put, it is extremely cold tolerant and capable of rapid reproduction causing sever infestations. It generally lays its eggs into cracks and feeds on the germ of the wheat kernels. This feeding on the germ in return affects the quality of the grain for reproductive uses, so it is vital that the seed is germination and vigor tested before seeding.

Monitor your grain constantly, its money in the bank.

Terry Bonertz

 

Week in Review- July 14, 2012

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A week of outstanding growing conditions is behinds us. As humidity was high, hay making was a challenge. Good prices are quoted on high quality product. As the drought in the US continues hay prices will continue to be strong.

The big “winner” in this drought has been the price of Barley. Prices are now reported of well over $270 per MT. Silage prices are escalating in some locales; empty silage pits help as well.

Canola bugs are low after first spraying. I am hoping we can get away with one spray this year.

Water use has been significant for all crops, don’t quit irrigating. Monitor intensely.

Be careful about irrigating during flowering of Wheat. Fusarium levels can escalate during periods of high humidity.

Go slow on irrigating Corn; this crop has not used much water yet.

Check your Spruce trees for: Spruce Bud worm, they can decimate your trees.

 

 

 

 

 

 

May your bushes be BIG…..

 

Cereal Leaf Beetle

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Description

Cereal leaf beetle adults are about 3⁄16 inch long and 1⁄16 inch wide. The adults have dark, metallic blue wing covers, orange legs, and an orange collar. The head and the rest of the body are black.

Eggs are cylindrical with rounded edge. They are light orange when laid and darken gradually over time to almost black. Eggs are deposited singly or in rows of two to four on the topside of the leaves.

Each female lays from 12 to 50 eggs.

Cereal leaf beetle larvae are pale yellow with a brown head and legs. In the field, they look mostly black because they smear excrement over their bodies. People walking through a field infested with cereal leaf beetle larvae may emerge with black stained pants legs because this black coating easily rubs off the larvae. The larvae are about 1⁄16 inch long just after hatching and 1⁄4 inch long when fully grown.

Damage

Cereal leaf beetle larvae feed on the leaves. Feeding activity results in long, window like slits in the leaf blade. When feeding is severe, the entire leaf becomes brown and ragged. Cereal leaf beetle larvae are especially damaging when they feed on the flag leaf and when large numbers of larvae are found before head emergence.

Life Cycle

The cereal leaf beetle has one generation per year. Adult beetles spend the winter in the woods and field borders. During the first warm days of spring, the beetles disperse into small grain fields, mate, and begin to lay eggs. Eggs hatch in about 7 days, and larvae (immatures) begin to feed on the cereal leaves. Larvae are usually first found after flag leaf emergence but before the heads have emerged. The larvae feed for about 3 to 4 weeks, then leave the plant, and move down into the soil.

Control

Check fields weekly for about a month. Check the middle of the field as well as the edges. One way to check fields is to walk back and forth in the field in a zigzag pattern. Look for feeding damage, adult beetles, eggs, and larvae. Stop in five to ten areas in each field, and count eggs and larvae on the top two leaves of five stems. If cereal leaf beetle larvae have begun to hatch and there is more than one cereal leaf beetle egg or larva per two stems, treat with one of the suggested insecticides. All suggested insecticides provide good control of cereal leaf beetle larvae. Because dying larvae are hard to distinguish from living ones, wait 2 to 3 days after treatment before checking to make sure the treatment was successful.

Other Management Strategies

Beetles prefer thin stands so follow good agronomic practices that promote full stands and high-yielding wheat. Also avoid late planting because adult beetles typically prefer less mature plants to more mature plants. Heavy rains can kill immature cereal leaf beetles. If heavy rains occur between the time a field is checked and insecticides are to be applied, wait for the foliage to dry and check the fields again. Cereal leaf beetles are controlled by natural enemies. Eventually, this and other natural enemies will help keep cereal leaf beetle populations below economically damaging levels. Ladybird beetles are also important predators and can destroy many eggs and larvae.

 

Pea Leaf Weevil- Check your Fields

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A Pea Leaf Weevils is an insect that feeds on the roots (larvae) and leaves (adult) of peas, fababeans and dry beans. In southern Alberta peas are the major crop at risk for damage. Most of the damage occurs from the larvae feeding on the nitrogen-fixing nodules, adults chewing on the leaves and growing points can also cause extreme damage.

The adult is slender, grayish-brown and about 5mm long. Pea Leaf Weevils can be distinguished by the three light-colored stripes extending lengthwise down its body. The larvae are “C” shaped, light milky white in color with a dark brown head, legless, cylindrical, soft and fleshy and 3.5-5.5mm in length.

Under Alberta conditions, the Pea Leaf Weevils produce one generation per year. Adult Pea Leaf Weevils overwinter in alfalfa. In the spring, Pea Leaf Weevils moves either by flying or walking short distances. The females lay 1000-1500 eggs in the soil near or on developing plants in May through June. Upon hatching the larvae move to the nodules where they feed.

Foliar application of insecticide is recommended if there are 1-2 bite marks per plant. This being said, please scout your pea fields or give us a call and we can come at check them for you.

From Amanda Homans, Agronomist with McRae Holdings.