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Grading for green: Two limes don't make a green
The Canadian Grain Commission has a colour guide for elevator graders to follow. Distinctly green is a dark green throughout the whole seed. Light green or greenish yellow seeds – sometimes called ‘limes’ – are not distinctly green and are not included in the green total.
Low expectations for fall seeded canola
Some growers in wet areas are considering fall seeding canola in case spring 2011 is too wet to get the crop in. If the winter and spring are dry and it looks like they can get into the fields, the plan, for some, is to spray out the fall-seeded canola with Roundup and go about seeding as normal. Fall seeded …
Fall weeds, white seed, green seed
October 6, 2010 A great chance for perennial weed control Perennial weeds such as Canada thistle, dandelion, and quack grass are best controlled in the fall because these plants are moving nutrients down into their roots for winter. This is their most susceptible growth stage. Often by October it’s too cool for effective fall weed control with glyphosate. But with …
Four weeks in swath? Be patient
With crop that’s been in the swath for 3, 4 or 5 weeks and is not drying down, growers are probably best to be patient and wait for better harvest conditions. It is still September and the risk of having to leave the crop to overwinter in the swath is still reasonably low. In most cases, canola quality will not …
Frosted pods shattering
Sept. 21, 2010 — Swath canola hit by heavy frost. Canola that was still fairly green when heavy frost hit this week will desiccate quickly. Pods can start dropping or shattering within days. The photos below show canola pods 24 hours after a minus 7°C frost this week. Pods dry out prematurely, then shatter or break off at the pedicel. …
Check crops today after frost
September 17, 2010 — Did you have frost last night? Growers with standing canola are wondering whether to swath right away. Before making that decision, note the temperature and duration of the frost. If you had a heavy frost… below -2 C Go out early this afternoon and assess the damage. Canola may wilt and desiccate quickly after this heavy …
Frost coming, should growers swath?
With frost forecast for many Prairie regions by Thursday or Friday this week, many growers are wondering whether to swath canola today so the crop has 3 days in the swath to cure before the frost comes. The goal of swathing canola ahead of a potential frost is to get the seed to dry down to below 20% moisture — …
Cut green now, combine in October
Issues of the week: September 9, 2010 — Regular showers and cool temperatures across the Prairies have canola harvest in a holding pattern for most growers. Many are anxious to start swathing canola with no or little seed colour change. Canola with firm but green seeds is usually best left standing, but read below for tips to help in the …
It’s September 9. Do I cut that green canola?
As the weeks progress, growers get more anxious to swath. Swathing at 50% to 60% seed colour change is still preferred, but by this date some growers don’t want to wait any longer. Here are some scenarios that may help with the decision to go or wait: What’s the forecast? —Warm temperatures. If all seeds are green but firm, a …