Interactive Sclerotinia Risk Map Available Starting on June 20th, 2023

The Sclerotinia risk map will be available through the NDSU Canola Pathology Program, the Northern Canola Growers Association, and the Minnesota Canola Council websites starting on June 20, 2023. The maps, which are refreshed daily, can be observed by clicking on the “Risk Map” button. The maps represent areas with low, intermediate and high risk in green, yellow and red, respectively; clicking on any NDAWN station in the map will show the estimated percentage of risk of disease development for that station (Fig. 1). This information will help growers make a more informed spraying decision.

To tailor the risk to a field, growers are encouraged to use the risk calculator on the same website. Growers should remember two important things when they look at the risk map. First, the risk only applies to fields where canola is flowering. Second, the risk map is only as accurate as the weather information we have. Rainfall can be sporadic; if your fields have had more/less rain than the general area, then you may have a relative higher/lower risk, respectively. Checking your fields for presence of apothecia (Figure 2) will provide confirmation of increased risk.

https://www.ndsu.edu/agriculture/sites/default/files/2023-06/7%20CPR%20June%2022%202023_0.pdf