b'CLUBROOTClubroot Should be Top of Mind for Every Canola GrowerThe fight against clubroot has evolved over the past few decades since it was discovered in Alberta.A LOT HAS changed since clubroot was first discovered in Alberta on canola in 2003. While scientists now understand the disease and its necessary management far better today than they did two decades ago, its spread and its genetic diversity means clubroot should be a priority management concern for every Albertan canola producer.Clubroot brings a two-part challenge. The first challenge is its growing geographic distribution. Clubroot has been spreading fairly consistently from its epicentre in Leduc County. As of 2020, 3,600 Albertan fields had confirmed infestation, with the disease appearing for the first time in 375 new fields.In 2020, the disease was found for the first time in the Municipal District of Smoky River (Peace region) and in the Counties of Grande Prairie (Peace region) and Wheatland (east of Calgary). While cases have not yet been confirmed in much of southern Alberta, experts caution no part of the province is safe from the disease.Not to sound cavalier but, yes, we are expecting to see clubroot continue spreading. Theres really no area that is immune, says Autumn Barnes, an agronomy specialist and the clubroot lead with the Canola Council of Canada. The reality is we are spreading soil on equipment and through erosion. Very few people are careful enough with sanitation and biosecurity. When soil moves, clubroot is going to spread too.Because its so difficult to find this primarily below-ground disease before infestation is widespread, Barnes recommends Clubroot infection has spread acrossevery Albertan producer grows clubroot resistance (CR) canola Alberta in the past few decades.in every canola field, as part of a proactive, integrated clubroot PHOTOS: CANOLA COUNCIL OF CANADA management plan. 48seed.ab.ca'