b'Reduced Insecticide Use commitment of everyone involved in the midge-tolerant Another stewardship win is the fact that midge-tolerant wheatwheat systemfrom the seed growers and distributors to the has prevented growers from having to spray to control orangeproducers who plant it. blossom wheat midge. This has resulted in several millions ofMidge-tolerant wheat continues to be an effective tool litres of insecticide not purchased and not applied, says Hyra.because farmers and industry work together to preserve the This not only saves growers time and input costs, but it reducestechnology, says Espeseth.the environmental impact of an insecticide and decreases dieselA big thanks to everyone who has done their part to protect fuel usage as well.this important technology, adds Hyra. This trait was identified The savings also add up in terms of a producers time. It freesby public breeders for the good of all wheat growers in Canada. up time to be able to spend with your family or coaching soccerAll that we ask is that as an industry we take care of it for several or doing whatever you want to do, rather than worrying aboutmore decades.killing bugs, says Hyra. It also eliminates the tricky task ofFor more information about midge tolerance and the staging spray timings for effective midge control. stewardship agreement, visit midgetolerantwheat.ca.Another impact of not spraying is the protection of beneficial The Midge Tolerant Wheat Stewardship Committeeinsects. If were not spraying the wheat, then were not spraying out the beneficial insects, says Tyler Wist, field crop entomologist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada based in Saskatoon, Sask. When beneficials are protected, they are able to do their part in helping to control the midge population. Using midge-tolerant wheat helps to maintain the level of the parasitoids in the crop, says Wist. Its important to support these beneficial insects because they work by laying eggs into wheat midge larvae and eggs, eventually killing the pest. Macroglenes penetrans is an example of a parasitoid that does a really good job of managing the overwintering populations of wheat midge, he says.There is no doubt that midge populations are way down across the Prairies, confirms Wist. The fact that so much midge-tolerant wheat is being used is having a level of depression on the midge population. But we also have to qualify that some dry springs have contributed to a reduced midge population as well. Wist also points out midge-tolerant wheat varieties have saved producers a lot of worry over the past decade. It is just so convenient, right? Plant it and forget about it. You dont have to be wandering through your wheat field on the July long weekend at dusk looking for little flies, says Wist.Hyra agrees that midge-tolerant wheat gives users peace of mind. You just let the technology do its job, he says. There have also been no reported incidences of resistant midge, which is evidence that the stewardship program is working.Stewardship WorksThe bottom line is stewardship only works because of the Chin Ridge Seeds Ltd. Taber, AlbertaQuality you can seed!- AAC Wildfire Winter Wheat- AB Cattlelac Feed Barley New! - CDC Inca Yellow Pea - AAC Stronghold Durum New!- CDC Bow Malt Barley - CDC Leroy Forage Pea - AAC Viewfield HRSW - AAC Congress Durum - CDC Austenson Feed Barley- CDC Blazer Maple Pea - CDC Landmark VB HRSW - AAC Spitfire Durum- CDC Maverick Feed Barley- AAC Chrome Pea - AAC Brandon HRSW- AC Transcend Durum- CDC Impulse Red Lentils- AAC Bravo Flax For more varieties of our wheat, durum, barley, oats, flax, peas and lentils please visit us at www.chinridge.comDon - [email protected] / 403.223.3900Kelly - [email protected] Spring 2020 55'