What are the priorities for April?

• Equipment prep, especially for the seeding tool and sprayer. 
• Read the manual on new equipment and electronics. Download updates now and make sure everything works before the spring rush.
• Prep the data. Review and upload variable rate maps. Check field names in farm management software, and make sure everyone on the team knows the field naming conventions for the farm. You don’t want people, especially custom applicators, getting sent to the wrong field. 
• Finalize crop plans and work out the sequence of spring activities and logistics. Note problem areas, including weed patches that will benefit from pre-seed burnoff.
• Finalize fertilizer plans. Set optimal rates based on profit projections and check on retail supply and final prices. Consider a top-dress plan if supply is short at seeding or if profit or yield projections change in the first few weeks after seeding.
• Spring is a good time for soil tests, if they were not done last fall.
• Pick up seed. Check the thousand seed weight for each lot and ask seed reps for germination. Run weights through the seeding rate calculator to set an accurate rate. At the same time, check that seed orders are enough for the target acres, based on the accurate seeding rate.
• Review the plan to reduce flea beetle risk and manage them, if necessary.
• Check old canola stubble for evidence of blackleg-infected residue. Consider upgrading to a foliar blackleg seed treatment if blackleg is noticeably present. You can also submit older “root neck” pieces for a blackleg race test for future hybrid selection.
• Review tips to improve canola profitability.
• Review tips to improve seed and seedling survival.
• Review notes and learnings from winter shows, webinars and reading. Is there one change for this year that could make things easier or add a positive ROI?

How does weather impact flea beetle risk?

Soil moisture (see map at the top of this email) and warm temperatures should combine for rapid canola emergence. This should improve canola’s ability to grow quickly through the flea beetle risk period, which winds down around the four-leaf stage. Rapid crop  growth also keeps seed treatment active through the risk period. 

Note that a warm start also means rapid emergence of the flea beetle population. And rapid hatch and growth of grasshoppers.

When is the best time to manage Richardson's ground squirrels?

March 15 to April 30 is the best time to manage Richardson’s ground squirrels. This timing for rodenticide and other control measures targets the breeding adults, which limits the offspring born. Waiting until June when gophers have started to eat the crop is too late. Damage to canola can be particularly severe because feeding usually removes the growing point.

What is a safe rate of seed-placed fertilizer?

The general recommendation is to put no more than 15 to 25 lb./ac. of phosphate (P₂O₅) – and nothing else – in the seed row with canola seed. (This is ~30-50 lb./ac. of monoammonium phosphate, for example). Exceeding this rate can increase the risk of seedling damage or reduced emergence. However, if soil moisture is high and seed-bed utilization is optimal, growers could push the rate slightly higher – but this comes with added risk. Ideally, use a low “starter” rate in the seedrow and band the balance away from the seed. 

To evaluate the impact of seed-placed fertilizer on canola establishment, turn off the seed-placed fertilizer application for a few 100-foot strips. Clearly mark the untreated strips for easy identification. Then, early in the season, count the number of plants in both treated and untreated areas. Compare the results to determine if seed-placed fertilizer had a significant impact on plant emergence and growth.

This report is supported by the provincial canola grower associations. For more information on their activities:

albertacanola.com

saskcanola.com

canolagrowers.com

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