Project Abstract
Flea beetles are one of the major canola pests in Alberta. Currently neonicotinoid-based seed treatments are often used to protect canola seedings from flea beetle damage. Therefore, PMRA's recommendation to phase out the use of neonicotinoids has caused much concern for growers.
Without these seed treatments different control mechanisms must be considered by growers, such as alternate seed treatment, increased seeding rates, or foliar insecticides. These activities may have negative environmental consequences, will incur increased production costs, and may be less effective than current strategies.
This project aims to evaluate the best available alternative agronomic practices using rigorous on-farm research. A series of field scale trials established across Alberta will assess these alternate practices with a focus on efficacy, environmental effects, and impacts on production.
Project Details
Timeline:
2020-2021
Principal Investigator:
Lewis Baarda Farming Smarter
Project Contact:
Lewis Baarda
Funded By:
CAP (75%), Farming Smarter (25%), AAFC, CCC, U of M
Collaborating Researchers:
Hector Carcamo AAFC, Smoky Applied Research and Demonstration Association (SARDA)
Project Objectives
Assess the potential for increased seeding rates as a cultural tool to mitigate losses from flea beetle damage
Assess the best alternative seed treatments at standard and high seeding rates
Assess benefits or losses associated with additional foliar applications and confirm threshold recommendations and their impact to beneficial insects
Quantify the potential losses to farmers incurred by the loss of neonicotinoids
Methods
Collaborators Or Locations
Treatments
FST = Fungicide Seed Treatment, IST = Insecticide Seed Treatment
FST + IST at 100 seeds/m2 WITH & WITHOUT foliar insecticide
FST at 100 seeds/m2 WITH & WITHOUT foliar insecticide
FST at 200 seeds/m2 WITH & WITHOUT foliar insecticide
Insect monitoring conducted with insect counts via sticky card insect traps, as well as plant damage assessments at cotyledon stage and at 2-leaf stage.
Lethbridge crop rotation will be wheat, canola, durum and then pea.
Four field scale on farm research trials were completed in each 2020 and 2021. Two were located in southern Alberta, and two were located further north, and were facilitated by SARDA. The site is placed near the edge of the field whenever possible - where flea beetle risk is greater. Plot size is determined by the field and the equipment that is available.
Measurements
Background soil fertility (temp, moisture, physical characteristics)
Emergence and plant density
Flea beetle counts via sticky cards
Flea beetle damage ratings
Canopy closure at solstice
Flowering date
Yield (collected with weigh wagon as well as geo-referenced yield)
Collected seed samples to assess seed quality (protein, oil content, green seed, etc.)
Aerial/satellite imagery
Weather data
Results
Flea beetle damage: Has been lowest where seed treatment insecticide has been used; Has been lower where foliar insecticide has been applied on seed without insecticide.
Yield Effects
Much lower yields in 2021: Both foliar and seed treatment insecticides appear to protect against yield losses; Using a higher seed rate appears to have protected against yield loss in absence of seed treatment insecticide