HomeMy WebLinkAboutPOL-021-23 Clubroot - Inspection & Control
COUNTY OF NEWELL - POLICY HANDBOOK
POLICY NO: POL-021-23
TITLE: CLUBROOT – INSPECTION AND CONTROL
ADOPTED: April 6, 2023 (C-122/23)
SUPERCEDES NO: 2016-PAG-034 PAGE NO: 1 of 2
POLICY STATEMENT:
Clubroot (Plasmodiophora brassicae) is a designated pest under the Agricultural Pests Act of
Alberta. Clubroot poses a significant threat to commercial canola and seed canola production
within the County of Newell.
POLICY PURPOSE:
The purpose of this policy is to establish guidelines for inspection and control of Clubroot within
the County of Newell.
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POLICY GUIDELINES:
Yearly inspections for Clubroot in canola will be completed by Agricultural Services staff.
Inspections will be completed in late July or early August and will be done on every irrigated
canola field.
Inspections will be visual in nature – Surveyors will drive to field entrances and look for signs and
symptoms of Clubroot.
Landowners will be notified prior to entry into the fields, if needed.
Proper sanitation methods will be used to prevent disease spread from one field to another.
If Clubroot symptoms are found to be present in any of the fields; sampling and testing of root
tissue will be conducted.
Positive identification of clubroot of canola shall be confirmed by certified laboratory testing.
Samples are to be submitted to two independent accredited laboratories and samples declared
positive must be confirmed by both laboratories
When land is confirmed positive for clubroot of canola a "Notice to Control Pests" shall be
issued pursuant to the Agricultural Pests Act, to any landowner found to own land infested with
clubroot.
POL-021-23
CLUBROOT – INSPECTION & CONTROL Page 2 of 2
The “Notice to Control Pests” may include any or all of the following conditions:
a) The growing of canola, mustard and brassica crops shall be prohibited for a period of
four years,
b) After four years the following canola crop must be a registered clubroot resistant
variety of canola, and the landowner/tenant must notify the Director of Agricultural
Services, in writing, of his intent to grow a clubroot resistant canola variety,
c) Proper weed control for volunteer canola and mustard family weed species
must occur for the duration of the notice. (or for a duration agreed upon by the
Director of Agricultural Services and the Landowner)
d) The landowner/tenant disturbing the soil shall be responsible for following best
management guidelines set out by Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation to reduce the
spread of disease through the movement of soil and equipment.
e) All other users of said field(s) must adhere to the same best management practices
for Clubroot sanitation
Prohibited crops grown within a four year period will be destroyed using any appropriate means
Upon issuance of a “Notice to Control Pests”, all neighbouring landowners, and all industries
known to have operations on that field will be notified by writing of the confirmed positive Clubroot
location. Only the confirmed positive land location(s) will be included in the notification.
To aid farmers in prevention and/or control of Clubroot the Agricultural Services Department may
provide disinfection services for landowners within the County of Newell at rates specified in the
Schedule of Fees bylaw.
General disinfectant will be provided by the Agricultural Services Department on a cost recovery
basis or may be supplied by the farmer at no charge.
*The Agricultural Services Department may provide a registered herbicide for control of volunteer
canola or mustard weed family species for the first year that the notice is issued for.
ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. The Director of Agricultural Services is responsible to ensure that staff are adequately
trained in Clubroot survey protocols and Clubroot signs and symptoms
2. Vegetation Management Technicians are responsible to be diligent in inspection and
sanitization of tools, equipment and personal protective equipment.
3. If Clubroot is found, landowners are responsible to reduce the risk of spreading it to
other parcels.