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SPONSORED: Protecting canola yield from flea beetles and cutworms

SPONSORED: Protecting canola yield from flea beetles and cutworms

Striped and crucifer flea beetles and cutworms have become the main concerns in terms of early season pests for canola producers in Western Canada. If populations set in, they can all challenge a canola crop’s ability to quickly establish a healthy, competitive stand.

Be proactive
Since early season canola pests hit, and cause the greatest damage, when crops are at their most susceptible during the emergence phase, it is important for growers to be proactive to minimize their impact. This begins with early scouting.

"Scouting should begin as the crop is starting to emerge," advises Allan Mayer, market development specialist, seed applied technologies at Corteva Agriscience. Growers should look for inconsistent emergence, plant stems and leaves damaged by insect feeding and bare spots in the field.

“Canola seedlings are more vulnerable to these pests at the early stage of development up to the four- to five-leaf stage, which usually comes around 35 days after seeding,” says Mayer. “Once canola passes this stage, it is less susceptible to major damage from these insect pests. Early protection is very critical to establish a healthy crop.”

>> Read more on how you can minimize the risk against damage from early season canola pests and protect your crop as it emerges.

Read more on how you can minimize the risk against damage from early season canola pests and protect your crop as it emerges.