Rain over the weekend is definitely a welcome sight as strong winds have recently started to have an impact on topsoil and pasture conditions.

Autumn Barnes, an Agronomy Specialist with the Canola Council of Canada, says with the majority of seeding operations now complete farmers should be out assessing crop emergence.

When looking at your canola crop, the Canola Council recommends producers look at crop emergence when the plant is at the two to four-leaf stage.

The emergence calculator can help determine the crop's potential.

Barnes says while producers are out walking the field checking on emergence they should also be looking for any weed, disease, or insect concerns. 

She notes one of the key insect's producers are reporting problems with this year are flea beetles.

"This wind that we've had, tends to drive them a little bit lower in the canopy. So they'll tend to feed on stems and the undersides of leaves instead of that traditional feeding on top of leaves and cotyledon. So, it becomes a little bit more difficult to scout for them."

She says the number one thing we need to do when scouting for flea beetles is to get out of the headlands.

"Start in the headlands, get an idea of the damage, but then move out into the field.  Make sure when your scouting for flea beetles that you're walking a big "W" in your field." 

Flea Beetle damage is most severe when they attack the plants' growing point which then limits the plants' ability to grow.