Thursday 26 November 2015

2016 Alberta Wheat Midge Forecast Map

Soil core samples were collected by several cooperators throughout Alberta this fall.  The IPM Program at AAFC-Beaverlodge contributed by surveying in the Peace River region with 12 fields sampled in Alberta plus 11 fields sampled in the BC Peace.  Thanks to Holly Spence and Arlan Benn (BC Pest Monitoring Contractor) for their efforts!


Alberta Agriculture & Forestry Staff coordinate this wheat midge surveying in Alberta.  Our soil cores were forwarded to Alberta Agriculture & Forestry's Shelley Barkley for processing. The complete summary of the results for the 2016 forecast map are posted to the Alberta Insect Pest Monitoring Network's website and was prepared by Scott Meers (Alberta Insect Management Specialist with Alberta Agriculture & Forestry).

CAUTIONS:  The 2016 forecast map does NOT replace in-field monitoring and growers are strongly cautioned against relying solely on this map to make pest management decisions!  Field scouting in wheat fields during midge emergence is the best way to assess wheat midge risk!





Acknowledgements: David Giffen (AAFC-Saskatoon) created the above map and the following list of cooperators have been recognized for their efforts in sampling all of the above data points:

Battle River Research GroupChinook Applied Research Association
Farming SmarterLakeland Applied Research Association
Mackenzie Applied Research AssociationNorthern Peace Applied Research Association
Smoky Applied Research and Demonstration AssociationMountain View County
Parkland CountyCounty of Two Hills
County of Grande PrairieMD Wainwright
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, BeaverlodgeAlberta Agriculture & Forestry technical staff