Canola Council of Canada media release
Canola plants are vulnerable to weed competition, insects, frost and other threats at this stage. Canola fields need regular scouting to make sure plants are protected.
Babysitting season begins for young canola. In the first three weeks after emergence, each canola field deserves an hour or more of close scouting per week.
“It may seem like a big commitment, but this time pays off quickly if it means stopping flea beetles that have reached economic levels of damage, or making a better decision on herbicide tank mixes and rates to get weeds that are bigger or more plentiful than expected,” says Keith Gabert, Canola Council of Canada agronomy specialist. “There’s an old expression that the most important input in a field is your shadow, and that’s true.”
Scouting can be squeezed in when weather conditions — such as wind — make spraying impossible. Growers can also use an agronomist to support their own scouting program.
“Company or private agronomists often have a regional view of pests and issues and they likely get the opportunity to track similar problems across a number of fields in your area,” Gabert says. “They can also provide experience and skills to help growers make informed decisions about weed, disease or insect control, stand establishment issues, or reseeding after a frost.”
Seedling and early rosette stages are critical times for canola. Plants are tiny and vulnerable and need regular scouting to make sure they’re protected. “In fields where plant counts are below 7 per square foot, it’s extra important to protect those plants to maintain the crop’s yield potential,” Gabert says.
What you might look for at this point in the season:
Source: Alberta Canola Producers Commission