From heat to hail in some areas – now insect infestations
LETHBRIDGE, AB. — Record breaking heat, and drought in some areas, have already had an impact on prairie crops. The average 30-day (May 29 – June 27) temperature was almost 3 °C warmer than climate normal values.
Now, there’s concern about insect infestations. Everything from bertha armyworms to Wheat midge, grasshoppers, seedpod weevils and lygus bugs.
The unusually hot weather is something the prairie doesn’t normally see until August. By that time, most crops have matured and can withstand some extra heat or pests. However, the Prairie Pest Monitoring Network (PPM network), notes hot weather stretching over the Canadian prairies is making it difficult for plants to tolerate insect pest pressure!