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Project Abstract

Distribution and abundance of insect pests in Alberta that affect field crops is correlated with climate, weather, agronomic practices, and natural enemies.

These factors can be used to forecast insect pest populations and better understand where and when crops may be affected. Bertha Armyworm and Diamondback Moth traps/lures are the first pest Farming Smarter assesses in the spring, on our field just East of Lethbridge.

Following those is Pea Leaf Weevil notch counts, conducted throughout Lethbridge and taber counties. Next, Farming Smarter conducts canola sweeps in the Lethbridge and Taber counties, collecting the insects and sending them to Shelly Barkley for counting multiple insects, focusing on Cabbage Seedpod Weevils.

Last, but not least Farming Smarter collects soil samples for wheat midge and counts saw fly infected wheat stubble in the Lethbridge and Taber counties. Shelly Barkley promptly uploads the collected data to the Pest Monitoring website so farmers can be aware of pest population patterns and make management decisions in a timely manner each year.

This program is vital for sustaining Alberta's agriculture production.
Image 1: Flowering canola for the canola sweep assessments, June 28, 2021

Project Details
Timeline Ongoing
Principal Investigator:

Shelley Barkley
Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation
Project Contact: Trevor Deering
Funded By:

Wheat and Barley, Pulse, & Canola Commissions (25%), CAP, Canada (75%)



Project Objectives

Full breakdown of project objectives

Trailor Icon Actively monitor multiple insect pest populations in Lethbridge and Taber counties

Methods

Full breakdown of project methods - for detailed methods of each pest, visit: https://prairiepest.ca/monitoring-protocols/

Diamondback Moth & Bertha Armyworm Trapping

Location Selection

  • A current canola fields

  • Adjacent to last year's canola field

  • On the field margin, not in the crop, in an easy to access location to visit weekly

  • Avoid: shelterbelts or a grove of trees, adjacency to a steep ditch, or ½ km vacuity to a strong light source (farmyard light)

Set up and Reporting

  • Farming Smarter puts up to traps (reported as one location) at least 50m apart in one field

  • The traps are placed together in the crop margin

  • When the time is ready, traps are put up with Lure and/or Vapona products to attract the moths

    • Diamondback moth sticky card traps are placed in the field in early may for 6 weeks

    • Bertha Armyworm traps are placed in the field in mid-June for 6 weeks

  • Once a week (after setup) the insects are collected and counted, then reported online for fast update of the Pest Monitoring website.

Pea Leaf Weevil

Location Selection

  • Farming Smarter contacts its partners that produce canola in the Lethbridge and Taber Counties and/or drives around the counties to find pea fields

  • 5 pea fields in each county are chosen and must be at least 20km apart from each other

  • The fields should not have been sprayed yet, and plants should be between the 4th and 6th node stage (usually late May to early June)

Counting and Reporting

  • 5 location, 1 m into the field and 10 m from the field entrance, are counted in a row

  • Feeding notches are count on each leaf from 10 plants

  • The 5 locations should be 25 m apart from each other

  • Counts are collected and data sent to Shelly Barkley for reporting

Canola Early Flower Survey

Location Selection
  • Farming Smarter contacts its partners that produce canola in the Lethbridge and Taber Counties and/or drives around the counties to find pea fields
  • 5 commercial canola Fields, that are at 25% flower (approx. late June into early July), in each county are chosen and must be at least 20km apart from each other
  • The fields should not have been sprayed yet

Sweeping and Reporting
  • 25, 180-dergree sweeps are done in the crop 5-10 meters into the field
  • Samples are collected, labelled, stored in a cooler
  • Samples are sent to Shelly Barkley for sorting, counting, and reporting each pest type

 Wheat Midge Soil Sampling

Location Selection
  • Farming Smarter contacts its partners that produce canola in the Lethbridge and Taber Counties and/or drives around the counties to find wheat fields that have been combined
  • 5 wheat fields in each county are chosen and must be at least 20km apart from each other

Sampling and Reporting
  • In a swathed field, samples are taken in between swathes and under swathes, randomly
  • If combined, samples are taken in between and in swath rows, randomly
  • Also, samples are taken within stubble rows and in between stubble rows, randomly
  • 4≥6-inch cores are taken, 17 cores with a ¾ inch core sampler, and 10 cores with a 1-inch core sampler
  • Each sample should be 10 meters apart in a horseshoe pattern
  • The samples are aggregated into a pale then bagged and tagged, then sent to Shelly Barkley for counting the midge and reporting (samples should not be frozen at any time)

Wheat Stem Saw Fly Counts

Location Selections
  • Farming Smarter contacts its partners that produce canola in the Lethbridge and Taber Counties and/or drives around the counties to find wheat fields that have been combined
  • 5 wheat fields in each county are chosen and must be at least 20km apart from each other

Counting and Reporting
  • A meter stick is used to count the wheat stubble that have wheat stems that are short and stubby, cut by saw fly (it can be easier to count stubs by pulling or digging up the wheat crowns)
  • 4 counts are conducted 50 meters apart from each other
  • Cut and Uncut wheat stems are counted, recorded, and sent to Shelly Barkley for reporting


Results

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