Each year farmers rely on key information about insect and disease outbreaks in crops across the province. 

That information comes from the Ministry of Agriculture and its partners, in order to provide that they need to be able to access farmers' fields to scout for potential problems.

As a result, the Ministry is looking for producers to sign up to participate in the program.

Crops Extension Specialist Matt Struthers says producer participation is important to be able to monitor the presence and abundance of insects or diseases throughout the province. 

With access to producer's crops, they can more accurately figure out the impact that they might have on the crop."

He says in order to provide that kind of information the Ministry of Agriculture is looking for farmers to sign up for their Annual Insect and Disease surveys.

"They would give us access to their land, we'd come out and survey and provide them all the results that we find. If we needed to send something off, like sometimes we'll send samples off for blackleg testing. They would also receive those results as well. And we'd work with them to tell them what's going on, or what those results mean, in order for them to make better decisions for the following year."

Struthers notes all bio-security guidelines are followed.

To participate, farmers can sign up here.                        

More information on the survey program is available through the Ministry of Agriculture regional offices, or by calling the Ag Knowledge Centre at 1-866-457-2377.