While farmers do the majority of disease scouting during the growing season, there are a few things to look for at this time of year.
Holly Derksen, plant pathologist with Manitoba Agriculture, says canola stubble can show signs of Verticillium wilt.
"The symptoms that we talk about with Verticillium is that peeling back of the epidermal layer, so that outer layer of the stem, and underneath you'll see a whole bunch of fruiting bodies, it's something that kind of naturally happens in the plant when it is infected with this disease. You don't need to necessarily be peeling back that layer yourself, it should be naturally happening if the disease is present."
Derksen says suspected samples should be sent into the diagnostic lab for further examination.
Another disease to lookout for at this time of year is Goss's wilt in corn.
"If you do have a severely infected field, it's something you might be noticing now in the combine when you get to a patch where maybe the yield is less, the seed weight is down," said Derksen. "While you're plant is still green, you may notice some premature ripening and the typical leaf symptoms of Goss's Wilt are kind of a tan colour and along the sides of the lesions on the leaves and you'll notice some freckling that's really indicative of Goss's wilt."
Source : Steinbachonline