Crop Pest Update

Aug 02, 2021

Summary

Insects: Grasshopper populations are quite variable, but continue to be a problem in some areas. Higher levels are occurring in pastures in some areas, as well as cereal crops. As some preferred hosts mature or are cut populations move around, and may move into other crops. Some grasshopper control in canola has been reported. Diamondback moth has been at economic levels in some canola fields in the Eastern and Interlake regions. Spider mites are starting to be noticed on some soybeans in the Interlake region.

Weeds: Combines are starting to roll across the province, for fields that have perennial weed issues preharvest control using a systemic herbicide is an option. For other fields where quicker weed and crop drydown is wanted to facilitate harvest and storage, desiccation may be desired. Grain from crops treated with preharvest products may have market access concerns, you need to consult all potential buyers before using any preharvest product. If using generic products refer to the specific label to determine if that product is registered for the crop you are spraying.

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Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.