Canola development continues to vary across the region. Fields north of Highway 3 are currently in the 40 to 50 percent bloom stage, while some fields south of Highway 3 are beginning to finish flowering altogether. As temperatures continue to climb, growers will be watching closely for signs of heat stress, including potential bud blasting, which can impact yield potential.

On the pest management front, applications for cabbage seedpod weevil control were largely completed last week and are wrapping up this week. There have also been reports of elevated bertha armyworm moth counts in pheromone traps in some locations. At the same time, our Grow Team has identified alfalfa loopers in several canola fields, which can sometimes be mistaken for bertha armyworms. Scouting efforts will continue over the next few weeks as we closely monitor populations and assess the potential for any significant outbreaks.

Our agronomy team is also investigating a few cereal crop samples showing unusual symptoms. The cause has not yet been confirmed, but possibilities include bacterial streak or wheat streak mosaic. Samples have been submitted for testing in Brooks, and we will share updates as more information becomes available.

That's all for this week's update. Join us next week for another edition of Crop Talks with Jordyn & Jack as we continue to track crop development, field conditions, pest pressures, and everything happening across South Country Co-op's growing region.