Canola School: Target plant stands, flea beetles, and pre-season planning (Part 1 of 2)

"It's always useful to go back to your target density... trying to shoot for that five to eight plants per square foot. Adjusting seeding rates based on expected conditions can help manage early-season risks. Stand counts from previous seasons can also provide valuable insight, helping growers refine their mortality estimates and make better decisions in future years."

"One of those risks is flea beetle pressure. Growers should think back to the previous fall and identify areas where beetles were particularly abundant. Because the pests overwinter near those locations, heavy fall populations could translate into early feeding pressure in the spring. Increasing target plant populations slightly in those higher-risk areas can help protect yield potential."

"If we're seeing more and more blackleg on your farm, maybe it's time that I should switch up my varieties... we need to look at another resistance to different genotypes. Beyond seeding rates, growers should revisit variety choices and disease management strategies to address emerging farm-specific challenges."

During winter, canola growers should use the waiting period before spring fieldwork to fine-tune their upcoming season plans. Key areas to review include seeding rates and target plant populations, with recommendations to aim for five to eight plants per square foot using thousand-seed weight calculations. Growers should assess previous fall flea beetle pressure in specific field areas, as overwintering pests may cause early spring feeding damage, warranting higher target populations in high-risk zones. Historical stand count data helps refine mortality estimates for future decisions. Additionally, reviewing variety selections and disease management strategies is important, particularly when blackleg or other diseases are increasing on the farm, necessitating switches to resistant varieties.

Read at Realagriculture