Seeding is a priority for many growers this week, but fields with a large population of weeds, especially advancing winter annuals, should get a pre-seed burnoff. For annuals and winter annuals, glyphosate needs only 24 hours to get to the growing point and set the control process in motion. After a day, the crop can be seeded. For perennial weeds,…
Plant establishment
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Growers could glean a couple useful tips about seedling survival by taking a plant count in last year’s canola stubble. It can also serve as a reminder to take seeding notes for each field. Record seeding rate, seed weight and seeding date for each field, and record weather parameters that will influence seedling survival — soil moisture (dry, moist, wet)…
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The seedling diseases risk increases with moist soil conditions and with tight canola rotations. The three best management steps for canola in this situation are: 1. Use treated seed. 2. Seed shallow. 3. Don’t cheat on the seeding rate, especially if seedling diseases have been a problem in past years…
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When the warmer weather returns, as is forecast later this week, canola still in the seedling stage that was seeded over 3 weeks ago may be at high risk of flea beetle damage. Also, dig down to look at the seed. A soft mushy seed is dead — likely from disease — and will not emerge…
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Best results from broadcast seeding came from fields that were fertilized early and harrowed to improve seed to soil contact. If field moisture conditions will allow growers to incorporate broadcast seed and apply fertilizer, then they’re not too far from being able to seed with the drill. May 9 is too early to park the drill and look at alternative…
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If seed carried over on the farm comes back with a low germination test, it is probably best to keep that seed separate and increase the seeding rate accordingly, assuming the viability is still high enough to be worth planting. If you can’t wait for germination test results before seeding, get the test anyway. If any problems arise with emergence,…