Parkland County is host to a variety of crops including canola, barley, wheat, peas, and alfalfa. Crops can have diseases and insects that affect yields and we conduct surveys for some of them.
Crop diseases
The following are all declared pests under the Agricultural Pests Act:
Blackleg of canola |
 Blackleg is a serious disease of canola crops that requires integrated management strategies to minimize yield loss. |
Clubroot of canola |
 Clubroot is a serious, soil-borne disease affecting canola and it is a declared pest under Alberta's Agricultural Pests Act. In Parkland County we make an effort to inspect every canola field for clubroot each year. We ask that farmers growing canola follow the Alberta Clubroot Management Plan. Parkland County Clubroot Update: In 2019 we surveyed 277 canola fields for clubroot. We had 92 confirmed cases of which, 35 were new infections and 37 were repeat. |
Crop report
Parkland County contributes information to the Alberta Crop Report which monitors harvests and crop/soil quality across the Province.
Insect monitoring
In Parkland County, we participate in several insect monitoring surveys to contribute data to forecasting maps.
We set traps, do sweeps, or take soil samples for the following insects:
- Diamondback Moth
- Bertha Armyworm
- Grasshopper
- Wheat Midge
If you have a canola field you would like to volunteer to have as either diamondback moth or bertha armyworm monitoring sites, please call 780-968-8467.
2019 Parkland County Insect Survey Results
Nitrate accumulation
Excess nitrates in some plants can lead to poisoning of ruminant animals such as cattle, sheep, and goats. Horses and pigs are less prone to nitrate poisoning due to a difference in their digestive systems. Nitrate poisoning in animals can occur from a single exposure or as a result of repeated exposures over a long period of time.
Some plants are more likely to accumulate nitrates than others. Annual forage crops such as barley, wheat, oats, and rye are more likely to accumulate nitrates than perennial forages such as alfalfa or clover. If nitrates accumulate in plants it is most often after a stressor like drought, hail, or frost.
Cutting or harvesting a crop within 1 day of damage prevents the buildup of nitrates to toxic levels. After 10 to 14 days, the concentration of nitrates is back down to safe levels as plants resume normal growth. Nitrate levels will not decrease in dead plants.
Forages can be tested to determine the nitrate concentration using approved methods at labs and Alberta Agriculture has information on Nitrate Poisoning and Feeding Nitrate Feeds to Livestock.
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