The 4th International Wheat Congress: observations and opportunities

Coles Ag on August 10, 2026

In May, MCA research program manager for cereal crops Lauren Gislason attended the 4th International Wheat Congress (IWC4) in Bologna, Italy, which reinforced the value of international collaboration in advancing wheat research.

While the scientific topics were diverse, common themes included climate resilience, disease management, sustainable production and application of new technologies. The conference also highlighted that many countries share Canada’s challenges, including reduced research investment, emerging production risks and the need to strengthen pathways that translate research into practical benefits for producers.

Observations and opportunities

  • IWC4 showcased the breadth of current global wheat research, with sessions focused on sustainable production systems, wheat breeding and genetics, genomics and genome editing, climate resilience, disease and pest management, digital agriculture and phenotyping, soil health, and reducing the environmental footprint of wheat production. Across these topics, there was a strong emphasis on multidisciplinary approaches and international collaboration to address emerging challenges facing the wheat sector.
  • International partners are facing many of the same challenges as Canada, including declining public investment in agricultural research, climate variability, evolving disease and pest pressures, and the need to attract and retain the next generation of agricultural scientists.
  • Collaborative funding models are becoming increasingly important to support large, complex wheat research initiatives. Discussions emphasized that successful international partnerships rely on trust, co-development of research priorities and regular communication among funders and researchers.
  • The “last mile” of research remains a universal challenge. While scientific collaboration is often strong, ensuring research outcomes are translated into practical tools and improved varieties that are adopted by farmers requires continued investment in extension and knowledge transfer.
  • Supporting Canadian researchers’ participation at international conferences provides significant value through networking, exposure to emerging research and technologies, information sharing, and the development of new international collaborations that can strengthen Canadian wheat research.
  • There may be opportunities to strengthen engagement among research funders, both internationally and within Canada, through dedicated funder workshops and renewed national forums, such as the Canadian Wheat Symposium, to encourage collaboration, reduce duplication and improve co-ordination of research investments.

Allan Feurtado, Team Lead, National Research Council of Canada

Coles Ag on August 7, 2026

Allan Feurtado is the Team Lead of Integrated Omics and Climate Resilience at the National Research Council of Canada (NRC). Growing up in Ontario, he developed an interest in plants and crops that led him to study at Queen’s University, the University of Guelph and then Simon Fraser University. His research focused on seed dormancy and germination, which eventually brought him to the Prairies and his current role at the NRC.

Where did you work before the NRC?

I first came to the NRC in Saskatoon as a PhD student through Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, BC. What was originally meant to be a one-year visit, to work with specialists in plant hormone research, turned into the place where I completed my PhD. After my PhD, I stayed at the NRC in a postdoctoral research associate role, working on seed maturation and germination. Over time, I became interested in abiotic stress, because of the parallels with events in seed development and maturation. This eventually led to my current position as team lead and research officer with the NRC’s Aquatic and Crop Resource Development Research Centre.

What got you interested in your current area of work?

My interest in plant roots stemmed from our discovery that the root system plays a significant role in wheat lodging resistance in our Prairie environments. Root biology had always interested me and its connection to lodging issues faced by farmers renewed my interest to develop a project centred on root system architecture – the shape and spatial arrangement of root systems. The second priority was figuring out the best way to look at roots. That’s where my interest in photography and imaging came in. I started thinking about how we could best use imaging technology and analysis to gain better insight into the root system diversity of our crops, and that’s also when I teamed up with root researcher Leon Kochian at the University of Saskatchewan.

Tell us a bit about what you’re working on at the NRC.

One of the current projects I’m working on is “Root of the Problem 2.0: Solidifying barley lodging,” which is a continuation of earlier work where we looked at various stem and root traits to determine which were impacting lodging resistance. The work is being done in collaboration with barley breeder Aaron Beattie at the University of Saskatchewan. Through the first “Root of the Problem” project, we conducted field trials in a small set of barley cultivars with varying lodging tendencies to confirm and validate the major traits contributing to lodging resistance in barley. We found that, in addition to plant height, wider root angles help anchor the crop and improve lodging resistance.

Since it is quite labour intensive to study roots in the field, we also wanted to use our indoor root imaging techniques to see if we could develop an efficient method that could be used to initially screen for lodging resistance. We found that root angles measured shortly after germination using hydroponic pouches were also associated with lodging resistance in the field.

Those findings led to Root of the Problem 2.0, which began in summer 2024 as a four-year project. Our goal is to further validate our findings and build an AI / machine learning model that breeders could use to select for lodging resistance using indoor root imaging. We’re also evaluating a larger collection of barley, around 250 genotypes, to better understand the genetics of root traits and develop root-based markers that will be very useful for barley breeders. We are continuing to collaborate with Aaron Beattie on the work and have added Ana Badea at AAFC Brandon to collect additional lodging data that will be important for building our models.  

What can you say about the value of farmers providing funding and support to your organization?

It’s critical. At the NRC, part of our research is supported through external funding, so being able to work on projects that are directly relevant to industry and collaborate with breeders is incredibly important. Results coming out of our projects are applicable across the Prairies and involve funders from both crop organizations and government partners.

Support from farmers and the industry is essential for the research we want to do, especially bringing together the collaborations needed to elevate our research discoveries and outputs. Another important piece is science communication. It’s valuable that organizations like Manitoba Crop Alliance are interested in sharing our research with farmers and helping connect the science to the people who will ultimately benefit.

How does that farmer funding and support directly benefit farmers?

It has been important for me to build connections with crop development teams and breeders, and to work closely with them so the knowledge we are generating goes directly into breeding programs and helps develop the next generation of crops. Our goal is to give breeders tools to select barley with improved lodging resistance, which will ultimately help farmers reduce losses and improve crop productivity.

How do you spend your time outside of work?

My main hobby is photography, which relates back to my interest in image-based analysis of plants and our root imaging technologies. I’ve always enjoyed taking pictures, especially landscapes, nature, wildlife and places around Saskatchewan and Western Canada.

What is the best part about your job?

A couple of things come to mind. What really excites me is the science itself and the knowledge we can generate. Over the last decade, it has been exciting to see where that knowledge can go and the impact it can have through collaborations with plant breeders and other industry experts. The other part is working with collaborators and co-supervising students. I enjoy mentoring students, transferring knowledge and helping develop our next generation of potential scientists. It has been incredibly rewarding.

What is a good piece of advice you’ve received that has stuck with you?

Recently, I had a conversation with a new colleague about science being a team effort. We talked about surrounding yourself with people who bring diverse perspectives and expertise and about how critical this is to advancing research for Canada.

I’ve really seen the importance of that over the last five years through engaging with crop development teams, breeders, computer scientists, data engineers and AI/machine-learning experts. I see myself working at the intersection of crop biology and technology, where collaboration is essential.

It’s all part of surrounding yourself with an array of expertise and bringing different perspectives together to elevate what you are able to accomplish. That is advice I’ve received from several people over my career.

When does spring wheat reach physiological maturity and when is the proper timing for pre-harvest glyphosate application?

Andrew Hector on August 5, 2026

By Andrew Hector, Agronomy Extension Specialist – Cereal Crops, Manitoba Crop Alliance

Properly identifying spring wheat growth stages is important throughout the season, but growth stage identification becomes essential as we near plant maturity and approach the window for pre-harvest activities such as swathing or applying pre-harvest glyphosate.

What is physiological maturity (PM)?

At PM, wheat plants have accumulated the maximum amount of kernel dry weight. Therefore, at this point, final maximum yield has been determined, and no more dry matter is being accumulated in the kernels.

How to identify PM

When assessing growth stage, check representative areas of the field. Special attention should be given to the least mature part of the field, especially if you are applying a pre-harvest weed control product, to avoid maximum residue limit (MRL) issues.

The first indication of PM is the loss of green colour from the kernels, and the appearance of dark pigment along the kernel crease (Figure 1). It’s important to note that kernels on the same head don’t mature simultaneously, with the middle kernels maturing first.

Figure 1. Wheat kernels prior to (top) and at (bottom) physiological maturity (note the darkened pigment strand).

The second indication of PM is when the peduncle (i.e., stem below the wheat head) changes from dark green to light green or yellow. Once the peduncle turns yellow, the plant is getting close to PM. However, change in peduncle colour is just an indicator (Figure 2). A fingernail test is also required to confirm growth stage.

Figure 2. Peduncle colour change associated with physiological maturity.

Pre-harvest glyphosate application for perennial weed control

Glyphosate is registered for pre-harvest weed control only, it is not a desiccant. Proper application timing can be challenging, especially if crop maturity is uneven across the field. Ensure the least mature part of the field is assessed for appropriate crop staging, to reduce MRL issues.

If applying, application should be conducted when grain moisture content (MC) is below 30 per cent, AKA the hard dough stage. Application prior to 30 per cent MC can reduce grain yield and quality. Furthermore, early application can lead to elevated residues in grain.

Conduct a thumbnail test:

  • Shell out the wheat head. Press your thumbnail into the kernel. At < 30 per cent kernel MC, and under reasonable pressure, the thumbnail impression or dent will remain. This indicates that plant has reach hard dough (Figures 3 & 4).
  • If the imprint of dent does not remain in the kernel, then the plant is not at the appropriate stage for a pre-harvest glyphosate application.

Always read and follow label directions. Check with your grain buyer before applying a pre-harvest product to ensure grain acceptance.

Figure 3. Thumbnail test assessing kernel moisture. Source: Keep it Clean.

Figure 4. Kernels at various times during grain filling: a. watery ripe, b. late milk, c. soft dough, d. hard dough (loss of green colour) and e. ripe for harvest. Source: Dave Hansen, Growth and Development Guide for Spring Wheat.

Additional Resources

I’ve noticed a lot of wild oat escapes in some of my fields this year; what can I do to prevent it from getting worse next year?

Coles Ag on August 5, 2026

By Ashley Ammeter, Whole Farm Specialist, Manitoba Crop Alliance

Despite our best efforts, sometimes even the best laid weed control plans go wrong!

The first thing to remember is that not all weed escapes are created equal. In some cases, weeds can survive because of application timing issues, challenging weather conditions or late flushes that emerge after spraying. However, when weeds aren’t controlled by herbicide applications, herbicide resistance should also be on your radar.

A recent survey in Manitoba found that in fields with uncontrolled wild oats, 100 per cent of populations were resistant to Group 1 products, 82 per cent were resistant to Group 2 products, and 82 per cent were resistant to both Group 1 and 2 herbicides. Those numbers show how important it is to take a closer look at wild oat weed escapes.

Start with scouting

Examples of field-scale weed distribution patterns that may help diagnosing weed escapes. Image from: Dr. Charles Geddes and Alberta Grains.

Identifying why your herbicide failed to control wild oats is the first step toward finding a solution. Start by scouting the field to narrow down the cause. Consider factors such as application timing, weather conditions, late flushes after spraying and the size of the weeds when you sprayed. Look out for distribution patterns in the field that might suggest application issues, such as plugged nozzles, missed areas or poor coverage. If you’re able to rule out these causes, its time to consider herbicide resistance.

For more information on narrowing down potential causes of weed escapes, see our resource on scouting after herbicide applications.

Herbicide resistance testing

If you suspect herbicide resistance, the next step is to collect samples to send for testing. Currently, most herbicide resistance tests require samples of mature seeds from the suspected weed patch. While some species may not have mature seed until after harvest, wild oats will likely have mature seed before your crop is harvested. Keep a close eye on your wild oat patches so you can collect seeds before harvest.

The Resistant Wild Oat Action Committee has information on how to collect samples, where to send them for testing and how to interpret the results.

Managing weed escapes this season

Even if you’re waiting on herbicide resistance test results, there are still steps you can take this season to manage the long-term impacts of surviving wild oats.

Before seed set, consider mowing patches to prevent the seed maturing and returning to the soil seedbank. If you plan to submit a sample for resistance testing, leave a small patch so you can collect mature seed.

At harvest, combines can spread wild oat seeds up to 145 m. Rather than chopping and spreading straw and chaff in heavy wild oat patches, consider dropping and baling the straw. This can help contain the patch and minimize spread.

Build a long-term strategy

Whether or not you have herbicide-resistant wild oats, using an integrated weed management strategy gives you the best chance of success in your fight against weeds.

Integrated weed management incorporates cultural, mechanical and chemical control practices to manage weeds. These are just some of the possibilities!

Combining multiple strategies can significantly improve your success in managing wild oats:

  • Use herbicides with different modes of action such as pyroxasulfone, fall-applied granular herbicides or other effective modes of action.
  • Diversify crop rotations. Winter cereals can be more competitive, later-seeded spring crops allow more time for wild oat control prior to seeding, and forages are harvested before wild oat seeds shatter and return to the soil.
  • Consider targeted tillage in the fall to promote fatal fall germination of wild oats, or in the spring to stimulate early germination of wild oats that can be controlled prior to seeding.
  • Improve crop competitiveness through practices such as higher seeding rates, narrower row spacing, careful placement of fertilizers to feed the crop not the weeds or choosing taller varieties.

With weed escapes, its not only the surviving plants that matter; it’s also the thousands of seeds they contribute to next year’s weed problems! Taking the time to identify why those wild oats survived allows you to build a management plan that uses “many tiny hammers” to keep the weeds at a disadvantage and protect the effectiveness of herbicides into the future.

Is fungicide actually effective on Sclerotinia head rot in sunflower?

Morgan Cott on August 5, 2026

By Morgan Cott, Agronomy Extension Specialist – Special Crops, Manitoba Crop Alliance

This is one of the most difficult questions to answer because there are many things to consider. I also don’t want to be outright negative because we do still have options for sclerotinia management in sunflowers. However, management is the operative word.

First of all, sclerotinia head rot infections have an interesting pathway. Spores use dead sunflower florets, plus pollen, as the base to infect a sunflower plant. The spores grow into the receptacle, infecting and decaying the entire head after a period of time. Sclerotinia wilt (basal stalk rot) and mid-stalk rot are also infected by the same sclerotinia species, but it will be via the mycelia that grow from the sclerotia bodies in the soil for basal stalk rot. Mid-stalk rot is also infected by ascospores, but this can be earlier in the season than head rot or at the same time.

Sclerotinia sclerotiorum Diseases of Sunflower​ (White mold) – The American Phytopathology Society (APS)

So, management of sclerotinia does not start at flowering. Crop rotation is the most obvious management tool that we are familiar with in sunflowers, but it is not reliable. Yes, always put at least three years between sunflower crops and any other oilseed that is a host to sclerotinia, but sclerotia bodies have a long life in the soil and it feels impossible to get rid of them.

Here are some additional management tools that, if layered, will definitely help manage the potential of sclerotinia infections of any kind, in any crop:

Nitrogen – avoid excess nitrogen rates, as this will encourage dense vegetative growth and prime conditions in the lower canopy for sclerotia development.

Weed control – many broadleaf weeds and volunteers can be host to sclerotinia, which can multiply sclerotia in the soil after a season of successful weed infections.

Tillage – tillage will move sclerotia bodies around in the soil, burying them and then also bringing them to the surface in a cycle. No-till simply leaves the sclerotia on the soil surface, ready for germination at any moment. The best practice may be to rotate multiple years of no-till with non-host crops so the sclerotia germinate but do not have a proper host to multiply, thereby decreasing in population.

Genetics – unfortunately, this still does not seem like it will be an option in sunflowers as it cannot be perfected or reliable enough to build resistance, or even tolerance, to sclerotinia. It has been found in the past that some hybrids did appear to have partial resistance, though that degree of resistance is easily exhausted in high sclerotinia incidence.

Fungicides – let’s get into this and I will summarize some recent work done in the Dakotas.

 

Sunflower susceptibility to head rot increases as bloom stage progresses and then decreases at R6 staging, where conditions have to be ideal for infection. At R7 and beyond, infection will not occur. Interestingly, at early bloom if temperatures are high, that is when risk is lowest during all susceptible stages.

In 2017-18, North Dakota State University (NDSU) researchers conducted fungicide efficacy trials using Proline and Endura (Lance WDG equivalent) and different application methods on head rot (boom-mounted nozzles and drop nozzles). Summarizing a large project, these are the key takeaways from NDSU plant pathologist Michael Wunsch:

  • Proline displayed moderate reductions in Sclerotinia head rot when disease pressure was low to moderate (<30 per cent incidence) with both standard boom-mounted nozzles and drop nozzles
  • Residual activity may be limited to the first 1 – 3 days after bloom
  • Coverage to the front of the head is optimized in the first half of bloom using standard boom-mounted nozzles
  • Endura (Lance WDG equivalent) showed little or no efficacy against head rot irrespective of application method
  • A significant part of the yield gain associated with fungicide applications targeting Sclerotinia head rot was presented by management of other diseases (rust, Phoma, Phomopsis, etc.)

See full presentation document on “Are fungicides useful for managing Sclerotinia head rot in sunflowers?” by Michael Wunsch. Or Michael Wunsch explains it in this YouTube video.

Essentially, if relying on fungicide, application has to hit the front of every sunflower head and within one day of infection, which is next to impossible to predict. The direct application to the front of the sunflower head may be improved with drone applications, but that is just speculation at this point.

MCA is in the third year of a field-scale trial in our Research on the Farm program, allowing sunflower farmers to test their product(s) of choice and method of choice for the control of Sclerotinia head rot. In 2026, we have two participants that conducted the trial using their spray drones, so we are looking forward to those results and subsequent data collection. See full results from 2024 and 2025 trial years here.

In conclusion, manage your sunflowers very well! Shift focus from sclerotinia control to managing other sunflower diseases, such as rust and Phomopsis, and keeping the full plant healthy to better fight infection. Other management practices to follow are appropriate nitrogen fertilization to prevent excessive vegetative growth, crop rotation of at least four years, control of broadleaf weeds that may also be a host and no-till management where sclerotia bodies on the soil surface form apothecia and then ascospores but have no host to reproduce.

Other resources

Meet Manitoba Crop Alliance’s 2025-26 high school bursary recipients

Coles Ag on July 20, 2026

Manitoba Crop Alliance (MCA) is proud to support agriculture’s next generation. MCA’s bursary program is designed to assist with the financial needs of students pursuing education in a field that will benefit the agriculture sector.

Six graduating high school students from Manitoba have been awarded with bursaries valued at $1,000 each. The six bursary recipients are Austin Dubyts from Stockton, Katie Gulak from Gilbert Plains, Aiden Brunel from Ste. Rose du Lac, Keira Duguid from Gimli, Julia McMahon from Inwood, and Ella Prejet from Notre Dame de Lourdes.

“Every year, I’m impressed by the quality of our bursary applicants and this year’s recipients are no exception,” says MCA chair Jonothan Hodson. “I look forward to seeing the valuable contributions they will make to our industry. The future of Manitoba agriculture is in great hands.”

To qualify for these bursaries, applicants did not need to be continuing into an agriculture-specific program. However, they did need to clearly articulate how their continued studies would help them benefit the agriculture industry.

Congratulations to all the recipients!

Learn more about this year’s recipients

Riley Anderson, corn crop committee

Coles Ag on July 6, 2026

Riley Anderson farms with his wife, Lashonda, west of Morris, MB. He is fifth generation on his father’s side and sixth on his mother’s. The family operation includes his parents, Joe and Pat; his sister Kara, who is an owner; and her husband, Caleb, who helps during harvest. Riley’s sister Cheyenne also works on the farm, while sisters Kaylie and Tessa help during busy seasons. His friend Tim is also an essential part of the operation. Together, they grow corn, soybeans, wheat and oats.

What motivated you to get into farming?

“It’s in my blood,” my dad always says, and we joke about that. I loved driving tractor and riding with my grandpa and uncle when I was little. From a very young age, my parents knew farming was in my future.

What is one of your favourite parts of farming?

I absolutely love planting season. That’s when we put the crop in the ground, and it’s when the highest level of attention to detail and precision is needed. It’s intense, because that’s what sets up the rest of the season. If we don’t do a good job planting, we’re going to have very little to harvest at the end of the year.

What motivated you to get involved with Manitoba Crop Alliance (MCA)?

MCA was looking for a delegate, and a friend of mine who was on the committee called and asked if I would join. I did, and I’ve enjoyed my time here so far. I enjoy connecting with other farmers, and corn is an interesting crop in Manitoba. Traditionally, you either grow it and love growing it, or you don’t. It’s always good to meet with other people who are passionate about growing a crop I enjoy. I also think it’s very important to be part of planning where our research dollars are spent.

What does your role on the corn crop committee involve?

The No. 1 job of the corn crop committee is deciding where our check-off dollars go and how best to spend them. We strive to be good stewards of farmers’ money. Second, because corn is more of a special crop in Manitoba, part of the role is spreading knowledge and skills on how to grow corn effectively. As one of the other delegates says, it’s about spreading the love for corn.

Is there a project or area of work you’re especially proud of being part of as a delegate?

The biggest accomplishment is hiring an agronomist in residence for special crops at the University of Manitoba, Loveleen Dhillon. That’s a pretty big deal for corn and other special crops in the province. It increases capacity for corn-specific research in Manitoba. 

Is there anything you’d like farmer members to know about the work MCA is doing?

MCA strives to spend every dollar to benefit Manitoba farmers. It’s for farmers at large, not just a few.

Why do you think other people should get involved with MCA?

With the amount of dollars coming in through the check-off, it’s a lot of money. We need as many smart, wise minds around the table as possible to decide how those dollars are spent. The more people involved who have a passion for moving agriculture forward, the better the ideas and research will be.

What are you most excited about when it comes to the future of your farm?

Growing more nutritious crops that have demand around the world, and bigger crops in the future as I learn how to be a better manager of my soil. I want to become a student of my soil and learn how to maximize its potential and leave my farm in a better position than my ancestors left it for me.

Do you have any hobbies outside of farming?

In the winter, I’m really into ice fishing. It gets me out of the house. In the summer, I enjoy going to sporting events. I’m a big football fan. My wife and I have also recently gotten into watching dirt track stock car racing.

What is a good piece of advice you’ve received that’s stuck with you?

Always buy good land and don’t buy bad land. Also, surround yourself with people who are smarter than you. I try to put myself in rooms where I’m not the most knowledgeable person, so I can keep learning.

What’s your go-to field meal during busy seasons?

Whatever gets sent out to the field. We used to always get sandwiches because my dad loves them, but he had some health issues a few years ago which has changed how we eat on the farm. Now we get more hot meals or low-carb options and try to eat healthy in the field instead of grabbing something quick from a gas station. My mom makes a teriyaki chicken dish with a bit of rice and vegetables mixed in. It’s so good.

What’s one thing people might be surprised to learn about you?

I was homeschooled from Kindergarten to Grade 12.

If you weren’t farming, what do you think you’d be doing?

I used to say I’d be coaching football, but I know I’m not good enough at that and probably wouldn’t make any money at it. I’d likely be working in the ag industry, maybe as a sales agronomist or in a role that involves connecting with people.

What exactly are corn, sunflowers and flax dealing with in this standing water and saturated soils?

Morgan Cott on July 2, 2026

By Morgan Cott, Agronomy Extension Specialist – Special Crops, Manitoba Crop Alliance

The crops we grow and work with in Manitoba do not generally do well in extended periods of flooding or saturated soils. Roots and growing points need oxygen to develop, so plant growth is delayed in these conditions. Disease development is also escalated in wet, hot, humid conditions, so that is another impending threat down the road.

Timing has not been ideal for corn. If you have puddling or any degree of flooding or standing water, corn at V5 or smaller is at vulnerable staging for survival. The growing point remains below ground until V6 and I think most corn crops were moving into the V6 at the time of the June 23 heavy rainfalls. It can be very stressful for a crop to have excessive moisture arrive as the growing point emerges from underground. No matter where the growing point is in the plant, if it is below the waterline, conditions become anaerobic and it cannot “breathe.” While photosynthesis can still be occurring in parts of the plant above the waterline, root growth is restricted below the waterline and all nutrient and water intake is hindered.

At this point in the season, I want any standing water to recede quickly and I also want the air temperature to stay mild during that period so there is no rapid growth or additional stress. Already, a week after the heavy rains, there is very visible rapid growth in corn fields across southern Manitoba.

Partially flooded corn field. Photo by Eric Tyschinski, MCA summer student.

Sunflowers are equally stressed in anaerobic conditions. Even though their water use is very high, if the plant cannot breathe, it cannot grow. In these times of excess moisture, we don’t want the crop to be in standing water for longer than three days, and cloudy, mild temperatures are best to keep other stresses to a minimum. Unfortunately, sclerotinia development is a significant threat in these conditions, and as the fields dry out, humidity will be high and conditions will be favourable to development, so basal and stalk infections could become severe this year. Keep an eye on stressed sunflower fields to ensure new growth is still coming and plants are still photosynthesizing. 

Effects of excess moisture in flax are exactly what we would guess: it has a low tolerance to severe stresses and will not survive long. The estimate for flax in standing water is about three days before the crop really starts to struggle and yield will be affected. Fortunately, stem root diseases are only a minor issue in flax crops and the wet soil conditions won’t affect this crop as much as it would others with regards to disease intolerance.

With all crops, check for new growth regularly to determine how efficiently the crop is still working and developing. Dig up a few plants to assess root growth. In saturated soils, roots don’t need to grow downward to find moisture, so the benefits of a strong root system later in the season might be diminished. Root health may suffer, which will be identifiable by the colour of the root. These are all good assessments to continue until the soil water subsides, the field starts to dry out and the crop can grow as intended.

Partially flooded flax field. Photo by Eric Tyschinski, MCA summer student.

Helpful Resources:

I’ve been hearing a lot about spray drones; can I spray pesticides by drone on my farm now?

Ashley Ammeter on July 2, 2026

By Ashley Ammeter, Whole Farm Specialist, Manitoba Crop Alliance

This topic has definitely been getting a lot of attention lately!

The short answer is yes, in some cases, agricultural pesticides can now be applied by drone in Canada. However, there are important rules and regulations to follow, drone spraying is not without risk and there are some unique considerations that are important to understand.

What changed?

On June 10, 2026, the Pesticides Regulatory Directorate (PRD) of Health Canada (formerly the Pesticide Management Regulatory Agency or PMRA) issued a Letter of No Objection, an interim measure which allowed the application of pesticides by drone in some circumstances, and was intended to apply until a final policy decision could be released.

On June 30, 2026, the PRD of Health Canada finalized their policy, allowing application of pesticides by drone for any product already registered for conventional aerial application. The full details of the new policy are available here.

Licenses and certification

If you’re considering drone spraying, there are several licenses and certifications you need to be aware of.

In Canada, drones weighing more than 250 g (including spray drones) must be registered, and the operator must have a drone pilot certificate from Transport Canada.

In Manitoba, commercial pesticide applicators must have a pesticide applicator license, but farmers applying pesticides on their own farms are exempt from licensing.

Always read and follow the product label

It is important to remember that pesticide labels are legal documents. Regardless of how you’re applying the pesticide, always read the label carefully.

If the product label allows aerial application to the crop you wish to spray, you may be eligible to spray by drone. You must follow all label directions for aerial application, including spray volume, application rate, droplet size, spray buffer zones or any other instructions. The only exception is that statements on nozzle distribution (ex. “Nozzle distribution along the spray boom length MUST NOT exceed 65% of the wing- or rotor-span”) are not applicable to drones.

If the label states “DO NOT apply by air” or “DO NOT apply by Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS)”, you may not use a drone to apply that pesticide. If the label requires a closed cab for ground application, you cannot apply that product by drone unless a similar “closed cab” system is used for the pilot.

In addition, the person who mixes and loads the pesticide must be different from the drone pilot. Mixers and loaders must wear the personal protective equipment (PPE) required for mixer/loaders by the pesticide label, and the drone pilot, visual observers, or anyone handling the drone must wear the PPE required for ground application. 

How well does drone spraying work?

This is where things get complicated. Drone spraying can be a useful and effective application method, but achieving consistent efficacy requires an understanding of some of the factors that make drone applications unique.

Sprayers 101, a non-profit website providing information on agricultural spraying, has several excellent articles focused on pesticide application using drones. I highly recommend their resources! Their article Safe and Effective Pesticide Application using Drones provides an excellent overview of factors to consider before jumping into drone spraying.  

One of the biggest challenges is determining a drone’s effective swath width. A drone’s swath width can vary significantly depending on the drone design, the height and speed of travel, spray droplet size, and weather conditions. The result is that the swath width that gives you adequate pesticide coverage and efficacy may differ from the values reported by manufacturers or determined by spray droplet deposition testing. Calibrating your equipment and measuring swath width under your conditions and spray settings is critical to preventing uneven pesticide coverage.  

Drift is another important consideration. Like with other aerial application methods, drone sprayers can be particularly susceptible to drift if conditions are not suitable. In addition, most spray drones use rotary atomizers, which differ from conventional nozzles. Most conventional nozzles follow an international standard, producing known droplet sizes at given flow rates and pressures. Rotary atomizers, however, are not standardized and may produce larger or smaller droplets than an operator expects. Understanding your equipment and application settings is critical to minimizing the risk of drift.

The bottom line

If you’re thinking of using a spray drone, whether you plan to operate it yourself or hire a custom applicator, make sure you understand the regulatory requirements and application best management practices. Like any spray operation, success with drone spraying depends on taking the time to do it right.  

For anyone interested in learning more, Sprayers 101 has many excellent resources. The articles linked below are a great starting point to learn about pesticide application with drones:

Rotimi Aluko, professor, University of Manitoba

Coles Ag on June 8, 2026

Connect with Rotimi on LinkedIn.

Rotimi Aluko is a professor at the University of Manitoba (UM) in the Department of Food and Human Nutritional Sciences, as well as director of the Richardson Centre for Food Technology and Research. Originally from Nigeria, he completed his undergraduate and master’s degrees in biochemistry there before earning a PhD in food science at the University of Guelph. He moved to Winnipeg in 2001, where he lives with his wife. Their two children are grown; one lives in Winnipeg and the other is in Alberta.

Where did you work before UM?

I’ve been here for 25 years, but before UM I worked as a research scientist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) in Saskatoon.

What got you interested in becoming a professor?

From my undergraduate days I was fascinated by my professors, how they taught, carried themselves and were respected in society. I worked as a scientist with AAFC after my PhD, but I was always on the lookout for a professorial position. It had been a longtime goal, so when the opportunity came up, I took it.

Tell us a bit about what you’re working on at UM.

If I’m not teaching, I’m usually giving feedback on various documents. This includes grant applications, student theses and manuscripts, and preparing documents that highlight the centre’s activities.

In one of our current research projects, “Genotype and environment effects on sunflower and new sunflower protein study,” co-funded by Manitoba Crop Alliance (MCA), we are looking at genotype versus environment effects on sunflower seed protein content and quality.

This project has two main objectives. First, we are quantifying chlorogenic acid, the compound that causes sunflower protein to turn greenish during aqueous processing. That colour isn’t always desirable in food products, so we are screening different varieties to identify those with lower levels of chlorogenic acid. We are also screening different growing environments to see if that affects the chlorogenic acid content. If we can identify varieties with low chlorogenic acid, they could be recommended to farmers, assuming all other aspects of the seed are acceptable.

Second, we are looking at protein quality. Proteins are made up of units called amino acids, and the quality of the protein is determined by the amino acids present that the human body cannot synthesize on its own. We are developing a rapid system to measure essential amino acids, which determine protein quality. The goal is to identify sunflower varieties and growing locations that result in higher-quality protein for use in the food industry.

What can you say about the value of farmers providing funding and support to your organization?

It’s invaluable. This research would not be possible without the financial support and collaboration of farmers and MCA. Beyond funding, farmers also provide the seeds to do the work. That level of support allows us to generate results that can be applied back to the industry.

How does that farmer funding and support directly benefit farmers?

The goal of this project is to identify sunflower varieties that produce high-quality protein with a desirable colour for food use. That creates stronger demand from the food industry, especially with growing interest in plant-based products. If successful, this will give Manitoba farmers an advantage by producing seeds that are more valuable in the marketplace and can improve returns.

How do you spend your time outside of work?

I am a history buff. I like to learn about history by relaxing and watching documentaries.

What gets you most excited about your work?

When we get results that meet our objectives and lead to useful outcomes, whether for the food industry or farmers, that’s what excites me. It shows the time and investment in the research is making a real impact.

What are you excited about for the future of agriculture?

I am excited about the growing emphasis on plant-based foods. The cultivation of crops is sustainable, and the current emphasis on using more plant products in our food system is highly encouraging because it points to a more sustainable future for food, agriculture and human nutrition.

What is your favourite food or meal?

As a Nigerian, my favourite food is Jollof rice. It is a specialty rice dish with a unique preparation, and I think it’s traditionally made in Nigeria and Ghana. It’s a wonderful dish with many different versions: spicy or not spicy, with vegetables, meat or fish.

Connect with Rotimi on LinkedIn.

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