Unusual Weather Creates Unusual Year for Cotton Insects

 

A warm winter followed by a cool April and May and some blasts of hot weather have led to throngs of grasshoppers and other cotton pests this year, according to Alabama Extension agents quoted in Cotton Grower. The grasshoppers are especially numerous in the coastal plain where they do better in the sandy soil there. Slugs, army worms and stink bugs are also affecting this year’s crop. You can read more about them and other cotton pests being seen this year at https://www.cottongrower.com/crop-inputs/insect-disease-management/unusual-weather-creates-unusual-year-for-cotton-insects/.

 

Video: Sclerotinia and Lygus in Seed Canola: Field Update with George Lubberts, CCA | Enchant, Alberta

Join Certified Crop Advisor George Lubberts for this Prairie Certified Crop Advisor (Prairie CCA) field update from Enchant, Alberta. In this 12th video of the series, George takes us into a seed canola field where the male rows have been removed and the female plants are filling pods. This video was taken in the third week of August 2025.

George discusses the early signs of sclerotinia stem rot, explaining how infection begins in the stem, impacts pod development, and leads to premature ripening. He also shares insights on lygus bug management, including timing of spray applications to minimize feeding damage and maintain seed size and quality.

With cool, damp summer conditions, George notes that while disease pressure is present, overall field health remains good. The crop is just beginning to show early seed colour change, signaling progress toward maturity.

Topics Covered:

•Sclerotinia stem rot identification and impact

•Managing lygus bugs in seed canola

•Crop stage and seed colour change observations

•Timing insecticide sprays for optimal protection

•Insights from a CCA field perspective in southern Alberta