The Saskatchewan government has released an updated version of the Clubroot Distribution Map, outlining the areas where clubroot has been found.

Agriculture minister David Marit says clubroot has been confirmed in 51 commercial canola fields, a rise of 8 since last January.

In addition, he says the clubroot pathogen was detected in 5 fields without visible symptoms.

The map shows clubroot remains north of a line through Yorkton and Davidson but new RM’s include northeast of Yorkton and southwest of Saskatoon.

Marit says knowing where clubroot exists helps farmers take steps to avoid further soil contamination.

Marit says the key to managing clubroot is to use club root resistant canola varieties in a minimum three year crop rotation.

An extended crop rotation helps minimize yield losses while protecting the effectiveness of resistant canola varieties.

More than 17 hundred fields were tested last year across Saskatchewan.

As part of efforts to control the disease, farmers with visible clubroot symptoms are required to develop a management strategy which will be monitored by an appointed Pest Control Officers.