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Mustard to battle against wireworms

Prince Edward Island potato growers are turning to brown mustard as a rotation crop to fight wireworm. Photo courtesy of Dr. Christine Noronha, AAFC.

Aug. 6, 2014, Prince Edward Island – As wireworms spread across P.E.I., costing potato growers millions of dollars by damaging crops, farmers are turning to brown mustard rotation crop for the fight. 

Dr. Christine Noronha, scientist at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in Charlottetown, has been researching wireworms for many years, and has developed a rotational strategy for P.E.I. growers battling wireworms using brown mustard or buckwheat (read more about her research in Wireworms on the rise, the cover story of our Summer 2014 issue). 

Brian Beaton, potato co-ordinator with the P.E.I. Department of Agriculture, told CBC News thousands of hectares of brown mustard have been planted this year as part of the battle against wireworm, compared to just a few hundred hectares planted last year. | READ MORE

August 7, 2014  By CBC News