From drill settings to flea beetles: what emergence checks can uncover | Canola School

After seasonal drilling, returning to canola fields post-emergence helps determine how this year’s crop and next year’s crop are positioned for success. Growers often assume drills are calibrated correctly, but uneven moisture, frost, windstorms, and insect pressure make emergence checks especially important. Plant stands reveal problems such as calibration errors, inconsistent seed depth, incorrect fan speed, or excessive ground speed. Insect and weather stress can sharply reduce plant counts shortly after emergence, even when seeding targets are met. Shovel checks that examine roots, seed placement, and feeding damage help distinguish insect, disease, and seeding-related causes. Seed treatment decisions also matter, since stronger protection packages can improve emergence and vigour despite added upfront cost.

"“You want to go back and say, 'Did the drill do what I thought the drill was going to do?,'” Seward says. “I think there's a lot of room where we can dial that in.” Plant stands can quickly expose issues with calibration, seed depth consistency, fan speed, or even excessive ground speed during seeding."

"This spring in particular, with uneven moisture conditions, frost events, windstorms, and heavy insect pressure in some regions, those emergence checks are especially important. Growers often assume their drills are calibrated correctly without confirming whether they actually achieved their target plant stand."

"The past few seasons have also brought mounting pressure from cutworms and flea beetles in many areas of Western Canada. Combined with challenging weather conditions, growers can lose significant numbers of plants shortly after emergence. A field seeded for five plants per square foot may suddenly be reduced to half that after insects, frost, or blowing soil take their toll."

"For Seward, one of the first things growers should evaluate is whether the drill performed as expected. Plant stands can quickly expose issues with calibration, seed depth consistency, fan speed, or even excessive ground speed during seeding. That's why Seward never heads to the field without a shovel. Digging plants and examining roots, seed placement, and feeding damage is critical for determining whether the issue stems from insects, disease, or seeding conditions."

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