Crop pests
Leduc County is home to a variety of crops, including canola, barley, wheat, peas and alfalfa. Crops can be infected by diseases and insects that affect yields. We provide advice to residents on identification and control methods and also enforce the Government of Alberta's Agricultural Pests Act and Regulation.
Types of crop pests
Learn how to identify and control the major crop pests in Leduc County.
Blackleg of canola
Blackleg is a serious disease of canola crops that requires integrated management strategies to minimize yield loss.
Clubroot
Clubroot is a serious soil-borne disease that commonly occurs in canola fields. Each year, Leduc County clubroot inspectors check every canola field in the county for the disease. If clubroot is found, producers must take certain steps to stop the spread of the disease and develop a clubroot management plan, which is outlined in Leduc County's Control of Clubroot Disease in Canola policy.
Management techniques
- minimize tillage in infected fields
- practice proper crop rotations
- use appropriate clubroot-resistant canola varieties when growing canola
- clean and sanitize equipment after each use
- do not drive from field to field, as clubroot spores live in the soil and spread easily
Fusarium head blight
Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a fungal disease of cereal crops that affects kernel development. FHB has a wide host range that includes all small grain cereal crops (wheat, barley, oat, rye, triticale), corn and many wild and tame grass species. The most common cause of FHB is the fungus Fusarium graminearum.
Fusarium graminearum is considered a pest under the Agricultural Pests Act and Regulation and Leduc County encourages producers in the region to be aware of the disease and take necessary measures to prevent the establishment of Fusarium graminearum within the municipality.
Insect monitoring
We participate in several insect monitoring surveys to contribute data to forecasting maps.
We check for the following insects:
If you have a canola field you would like to volunteer to have as bertha armyworm monitoring site, please call 780-955-4593.