The swede midge, Contarinia nasturtii, is a significant pest of brassica vegetable crops and canola in eastern Canada. It was first discovered in Saskatchewan in 2007 where it now threatens the canola industry.

Cutworms are present across the Prairies, and in some years some species of cutworms can reach levels that are of economic concern in field crops. Researchers conducted a five-year project across the Prairies to develop better identification tools and a better understanding of cutworm biology and their natural enemies.

Nitrogen (N) fertilizer is one of the key inputs in most annual crop production systems, however, N fertilization strategies and decisions may also have longer-term implications for N dynamics in cropping systems.

Clubroot is a destructive soil-borne disease that represents a potentially serious threat to canola production in Saskatchewan. In a recent three-year study, researchers investigated the possibility of eradicating small areas of infestation if they were identified early enough, assessed different actives and determined the distribution of the pathogen in soils.

Crop diseases can be devastating to the profitability of producers, and certain diseases are particularly problematic, such as clubroot, blackleg and aster yellows.

Canola, one of the world’s most valuable oilseeds, is under constant pressure by the fungal pathogen, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, the causal agent of white stem rot.

A five-year laboratory and field study was conducted to evaluate seed treatments for control of crucifer flea beetles (CFB) and striped flea beetles (SFB) on hybrid canola.

Canola is a crop associated with large seed losses before and at harvest, including from pod shatter and pod drop. Researchers conducted a three-year study to develop and refine a method for measuring pod-retention resistance.

Although outbreaks are sporadic, the bertha armyworm continues to be an economically significant pest of canola in western Canada.

Sclerotinia stem rot causes significant yield loss for canola in western Canada each year; however, the impact to individual fields varies dramatically depending on specific environmental and weather conditions.

Sulfur (S) fertilizers have become an important part of the fertilizer mix for Saskatchewan growers, not only for canola, but also for pulse and cereal crops. The overall objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of different fertilizer forms as sources of plant available S to crops.

In western Canada, field surveys are showing an increased presence of two species of cleavers, which are difficult to control in many crops such as canola.

Clubroot, caused by Plasmodiophora brassicae, is a destructive soilborne disease that is now prevalent on canola (Brassica napus) in central Alberta and appears to be spreading to other regions of the Prairies.

Genetic resistance to blackleg in canola varieties has been widely used in disease control. However, breakdown of host genetic resistance due to population shifts and the emergence of new races of the pathogen is a growing concern.

Blackleg, caused by Leptosphaeria maculans, used to be the most widespread fungal disease of canola in western Canada. The disease was well controlled for many years with resistant canola cultivars and extended crop rotation, but has increased noticeably in recent years.

For canola growers, the establishment of an adequate and even plant stand is essential to reaching yield potential. A three-year study was conducted in Saskatchewan from 2012 to 2014 to determine if the SeedMaster UltraPro canola roller can produce more uniform canola seed placement than conventional fluted rollers.

A four-year, multiple location study was initiated in Saskatchewan in 2011 to provide information on the overall risk of environmental yield loss in straight-combined canola, and to quantify genetic differences in Brassica napus seed losses due to pod drop and pod shattering.

In 2014 researchers initiated a project to collect baseline information on how management practices affect the storage conditions of canola over the summer months.

The management of large volumes of hog manure on agricultural land is a critical challenge due to its low N:P ratio and stringent regulations based on soil test phosphorus (P) levels.

Glyphosate is the most widely used herbicide in the world, and frequent glyphosate use has selected for glyphosate-resistant (GR weeds). In 2011 and 2012, surveys documented the occurrence of GR kochia in Alberta.