County residents are being asked to keep their eyes peeled as clubroot disease has been observed to be on the rise.
Clubroot is described as a serious, soil-borne disease that affects all plants in the broccoli family, and of most concern to the county, canola. The disease forms galls on the roots, destroying a plant’s ability to take in water and nutrients.
The county says the disease is becoming increasingly prevalent throughout the province. Annual inspections in the region revealed two early-stage infections which were confirmed by lab testing; however, no signs were evident in the crop.
As a result, residents are advised to sanitize all agricultural and industrial equipment to keep the disease from spreading.
Additionally, property owners are advised to ensure no soil is transported onto fields, establish a dedicated cleaning area for equipment, and treat any new or used equipment with a two per cent bleach solution for “at least 10 minutes.”
The county is requiring all industrial operators to follow the clubroot protocol to mitigate the effects of the disease in the region.
