The presence of Clubroot in Saskatchewan is trending down, says Keith Fournier even as he cautions that could change as the last few years have been dry and the canola soil-borne disease likes moisture.
The SaskCanola chair and Maidstone area producer is sharing his thoughts as the most recent Clubroot distribution map shows no new visible Clubroot symptoms. The total number of commercial fields with visible symptoms remains at 82. However, the number of commercial fields identified to have the clubroot pathogen through DNA testing has risen from 42 to 43.
He adds in dry conditions it’s harder for Clubroot to be moved from one area to another via farm equipment and notes the benefits of greater awareness, best management practices, and the use of Clubroot-resistant varieties by farmers as some of the takeaways going forward.
Last year, over 500 fields were examined with producers’ permission. The latest findings can be viewed online.
