Canola growers with excessive moisture in 2010 face many unknowns and issues for 2011. The following tips will help growers prepare these fields for 2011: Get a soil analysis. Nutrient reserves will be difficult to predict, especially in low areas flooded for long periods. Lack of oxygen limits microbial breakdown of organic matter. Therefore nutrients made available through mineralization will …
Winners of the Canola Watch survey draw
Thank you to everyone who completed the Canola Watch survey. Winners of the Canadian Tire gift certificates are Bob Bartkewich, North Battleford, Sask.; Harold Brown, Winnipeg, Man.; Bert Dueck, Fisher Branch, Man.; Ron Howard, Brooks, Alta.; and Fred Waelchli, Yorkton, Sask. Your prizes will be mailed shortly. Published on January 5, 2011
Clubroot: Prevention steps for non-infested regions
The key to keep clubroot from spreading to new regions is to be vigilant with machinery and field inspectors coming from known clubroot infested regions. Keep them out of your fields unless they sanitize thoroughly. Clubroot is soil-borne and spreads with the movement of infested soil, including clods on openers and mud on tires and boots. Growers should also become …
Clubroot: Management steps for non-infested land in an infested region
Follow these steps for land that doesn’t have clubroot but is within an area with reported cases: 1. Use a resistant variety. This can keep undetected levels of clubroot from increasing to economically-significant levels. Six clubroot-resistant hybrids on the market for 2011 are D3152 from DuPont, Dekalb 73-67 and 73-77 from Monsanto, Proven 9558C from Viterra, 1960 from Canterra, and …
Clubroot: Management steps for infested land
Clubroot has been found in 18 Alberta counties and it spreads every year. See the 2010 clubroot map at the bottom of this article. Growers have clubroot-resistant varieties to choose from, but this resistance could be lost quickly if not supported by a combination of the following practices: 1. Use resistant varieties. Six clubroot-resistant hybrids are on the market for …
Know your options for high-green canola
Canola grades for 2010 are lower than average due to high levels of green seed. Through most of Alberta and in Northeastern Saskatchewan, for example, less than 70% of canola achieved No.1 grade, based on Canadian Grain Commission analysis. See the CGC map below for the percentage of No.1 canola in your region. Across the Prairies, 76.6% of canola graded …
Blackleg tips | Seed selling fast | Bins heating
Tips to keep blackleg resistance strong The more we use blackleg-resistant canola in a rotation, the more we encourage the buildup of blackleg populations that can successfully overcome that resistance trait. The risk is especially high in regions where conditions for disease — early season rain and humidity — are present most years. Ideally, in areas where blackleg is present, …
Top varieties selling out fast
Growers who plan to rotate between canola systems for improved weed control or to try a different variety as part of a blackleg management plan may want to book seed soon. That way they can be sure to get a variety that fits the plan. Although growing conditions in 2011 will strongly influence which weeds will dominate, growers usually know …
Check bins, avoid costly surprises
Think canola is safe when it’s cold outside? Not always. Many bins of canola have been lost already this year because canola went in hot or damp and was not conditioned adequately. As outside temperatures drop below zero and stay there, another moisture cycle begins within the bin. (See the graphic below.) A pocket of humid and warmer air collects …
Soil test wet fields in winter
Fields that were excessively wet in 2010 may not have the soil nutrient reserves growers expect. A soil test is recommended. If fields were too wet for soil test equipment in the fall, sampling may work better when the topsoil has frozen enough to drive on. Breaking through the top few inches of frozen ground is a challenge, but many …