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Good news for potato growers

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency's 2023 National Survey for Potato Wart shows the pest was not detected in any of the soil samples tested. 

Over 2000 soil samples were collected from fields in key potato-growing areas like PEI, Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia.

The national survey results have been provided to provinces, the Canadian Potato Council, and the United States Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

The soil survey,  as well as specific and general visual potato wart surveillance, has been ongoing since the disease was first detected in PEI in 2000 which resulted in the closure of the U.S.-Canada border to all fresh PEI potatoes for six months.

Source : Pembinavalley online

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Dr. Fei Yang Discusses Corn Rootworm, European Corn Borer, and Pest Monitoring

Video: Dr. Fei Yang Discusses Corn Rootworm, European Corn Borer, and Pest Monitoring

What insect threats are Minnesota corn growers facing, and what research is helping farmers stay ahead of them?

At the 2026 MN Ag Expo, University of Minnesota entomologist Fei Yang shared updates on three Minnesota Corn-supported research projects focused on insect monitoring, seed treatments, and pest resistance.

Current work includes statewide monitoring programs that use pheromone, light, and sticky traps to track key pests such as black cutworm, true armyworm, corn earworm, European corn borer, and corn rootworm. Researchers are also evaluating whether high-rate seed treatments provide effective corn rootworm control and studying the development of resistance in European corn borer populations to Bt corn traits.

These projects help researchers better understand pest pressures across Minnesota and provide farmers with practical information to support informed management decisions.