Clubroot spread slows in Saskatchewan due to dry conditions

The Saskatchewan government releases its clubroot distribution map each January to show the rural municipalities (RMs) where clubroot has been identified.

Clubroot is a soil-borne disease that can cause significant canola yield loss when pathogen levels are high.

SaskCanola chair Keith Fournier said over 500 fields were examined with producers’ permission.

“There was only one field picked up. The pathogen was detected through a soil test but no fields were picked up due to visible symptoms this year,” Fournier said.

The dry conditions contributed to slowing the spread of the disease but Fournier said farmers need to remain vigilant.

“We cannot become complacent. Once we get those wetter years, we could see that trend reverse and go back up. We have to keep the pedal to the metal in our awareness of the disease.”

One component of the clubroot monitoring program is the soil testing bags available free to producers and industry agronomists. SaskCanola, select (RMs), and the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) helped distribute the soil testing bags. SaskCanola will continue to pay for testing.

“Investing in clubroot testing continues to raise awareness and support mitigation,” Fournier said. “SaskCanola remains dedicated to investing levy dollars into clubroot-related research to protect canola’s sustainability as a core crop into the future.”