News that Clubroot Disease is becoming more prominent in Northern Saskatchewan is a concern for Canola Growers. 

So far, 37 Canola fields in the province have shown symptoms of the disease which impacts the crops yield.

Fields with visual symptoms were identified either through this year’s clubroot survey or were reported to the Ministry of Agriculture by Saskatchewan growers, agrologists, or Rural Municipalities. 

Chair of SaskCanola Doyle Wiebe says Canola is a go-to crop for many producers in the Province.

“Canola itself as a Canadian crop is the most valuable crop in Canada and Saskatchewan grows half of that.  We’re talking $5 billion dollars of farm gate receipts in Saskatchewan alone.  The economic activity is very significant and volume is key for many of the sectors to continue their operations the crushing plants, the exporters and so on.  So it’s a very important crop for not only for farmers but for the whole economy of Saskatchewan.”

Clubroot is relatively new here in the Province but Alberta has been dealing with it for about 15 years now.

Wiebe says Sask Canola has been working with the Ministry of Agriculture and the Canola Council of Canada on a Clubroot Management Plan.

“Crop Rotations is the first and foremost one that’s recommended to ensure the Clubroot Disease in the soil doesn’t multiply year after year on host plants.  Clubroot Resistant Varieties is also part of the plan as more and more seed companies provide that but those resistant genes are not fool proof.”

He notes it’s an important crop for the province’s producers adding that the volume of the crop is key for many sectors from crushers to exporters.

The in-field portion of the survey is done, soil testing is underway now which will provide additional information about the distribution of the clubroot pathogen. 

Once testing is complete, a clubroot distribution map will be released in early 2019.

More information about clubroot and its prevention and management, canola growers can visit here.