Details for Field Crops, Row Crops, Specialty Crops

Using a fungicide on canary seed in Saskatchewan may be beneficial, but it depends on several factors. Here’s how to evaluate whether fungicide application is warranted: ⸻ ✅ Key Factors to Consider: 1. Disease Pressure • Common Diseases: Canary seed can be affected by leaf spot diseases such as septoria and alternaria. • Weather Conditions: Wet, humid, or prolonged leaf wetness increases risk. If you’ve had frequent rains, foggy mornings, or heavy dew, disease pressure is likely higher. 2. Canopy Density • Dense, lush stands (especially from high seeding rates or fertilization) trap moisture, increasing risk. 3. Crop Rotation • Growing canary seed back-to-back or after cereals increases disease risk, especially leaf spots. 4. Yield Potential • If the crop has good stand, moisture, and fertility, protecting yield with a fungicide might offer a positive return on investment. ⸻ 📅 Timing for Application • Best timing: Just before or at early heading (flag leaf to boot stage). • This targets disease before it spreads to upper leaves or the panicle. ⸻ 🔬 Research-Based Insights • Canary seed doesn’t always show strong economic returns from fungicides like wheat or barley. • However, trials in Saskatchewan have shown occasional yield bumps (5–10%) under moderate to high disease pressure. • Scout your fields: If lesions are already visible on lower leaves, and weather remains wet/humid, a fungicide is more likely to pay off. ⸻ 💡 Recommendations: • If you have dry conditions and low disease presence: Probably not needed. • If you have lush growth + wet/humid conditions: Apply a fungicide at flag leaf to early heading. Common products used: • Propiconazole, Prothioconazole, or Azoxystrobin-based fungicides (similar to cereals). Here’s a Canary Seed Fungicide Scouting Checklist and a Simple ROI Calculator to help you decide whether to spray: ⸻ ✅ Canary Seed Fungicide Scouting Checklist Factor Yes No Is the weather humid, with rain or dew? ☐ ☐ Are leaf spots visible on lower leaves? ☐ ☐ Is the canopy thick and lush? ☐ ☐ Is the field under continuous cereal rotation (no broadleaf break)? ☐ ☐ Is the crop at flag leaf to early heading stage? ☐ ☐ Is the yield potential above average (based on crop health & moisture)? ☐ ☐ 👉 If you check 4 or more boxes under “Yes”, a fungicide application is more likely to provide a return. ⸻ 💸 Simple ROI Calculator Step 1: Fill in your numbers below. Item Value Expected yield (bu/acre) e.g. 30 Canary seed price ($/bu) e.g. $0.40 Fungicide + application cost ($/acre) e.g. $20 Estimated yield increase (%) e.g. 8% (typical range: 5–10%) ⸻ Step 2: Calculate \text{Yield gain} = \text{Expected yield} \times \left(\frac{\text{Yield increase %}}{100}\right) \text{Additional revenue} = \text{Yield gain} \times \text{Price} \text{ROI} = \text{Additional revenue} - \text{Fungicide cost} ⸻ 📊 Example: • 30 bu/ac × 8% = 2.4 bu/ac gain • 2.4 × $0.40 = $0.96 gain per acre • $0.96 – $20 = −$19.04 ROI → Not worth spraying in this case. But if the price is $1.00/bu and gain is 10%: • 3 bu/ac × $1.00 = $3.00 gain → still below cost. Canary seed usually needs a big yield bump or higher market price to justify spraying.