Flea beetles can look worrisome when they amass on late season canola plants. However, flea beetle feeding on canola in late summer is rarely an economic concern, as noted here. Once canola is past the 5.2 growth stage, it becomes resistant to injury from flea beetles. Even when seeds in lower pods are still green, significant yield reductions mau require flea beetle numbers to exceed 100 per plant (and in some cultivars, 350 per plant). If the beetles manage to chew through pods to the seeds, they typically target pods in the top of the canopy that contribute little to final yield. Still want to spray? If swathing is a week or less away, there are few control options available in the pre-harvest interval calculator. There is no data indicating that a pre-harvest insecticide this fall will reduce flea beetle feeding on canola seedlings next spring. (Late season flea beetles)
How much harvest loss is too much?
Now is a great time to prep the combine for harvest, including testing all settings. Calibrate with a goal of 1% combine loss: when losses are greater than this, final yield will be impacted; any less and the combine may be running too slowly to complete harvest efficiently . (Note: according to this 2019 study, average losses of canola at combining across Western Canada were three times higher than ideal, costing producers an average of $12.35/ac). Combine settings should – at a minimum – be adjusted between every field and according to conditions, taking shatter ratings into account. Onboard electronic loss monitors do not provide an accurate measurement of loss. Follow these instructions using the Harvest Loss Calculator to determine actual losses. Agronomists: is measuring harvest loss a service you could offer your clients? (Minimizing grain loss during harvest)
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