1. Missing a window of opportunity (due to moisture or any other reason) with herbicides, fungicides or insecticides often results in greater yield losses because the pests will have had a chance to cause damage, or are tougher to control later. Research in western Canada has shown over and over that removing weeds earlier significantly increases yields. 2. Big new …
Aerial an option for WeatherMax and Liberty
When fields are too wet for the sprayer, canola growers do have options for aerial application. —Roundup WeatherMax is the only glyphosate registered for aerial application at this crop stage. All conditions are outlined in detail on the label. —Liberty (glufosinate) is registered for aerial application at this stage. Remember, Liberty works best at higher water rates. —None of the …
Fertilizer top up for wet fields
Wet fields will have lost up to half of their applied nitrogen and soil reserves through leaching or denitrification the past couple weeks. But growers should make sure their canola has survived the wet conditions before investing in a fertilizer top up. If the crop is in good shape, a small nitrogen top up may help the crop. Too much …
See birds in the field? Scout for cutworm
CCC senior agronomy specialist Jim Bessel says that if you see ravens or seagulls or other birds congregating in your fields, get out and scout for cutworms. Wet weather often forces cutworms to the surface, where birds will eat them. Note that cutworms can cause crop damage from the surface, feeding on above-ground parts of canola plants. Even if you don’t …
Liberty: Higher rates or tank mix?
We have received a few questions about Liberty and whether to use the high rate of Liberty alone or apply a lower rate and tank mix with clethodim for improved wild oat control. Eric Johnson, weed biologist with AAFC in Scott, Sask., says, “I don’t think that there is rate of Liberty that would provide as consistent control as the …
Tips for soggy fields
Issues of the week June 2, 2010 — Excess rain continues to hold up seeding in parts of Saskatchewan and has drowned some canola in Manitoba. In this week’s Canola Watch, we discuss broadcast seeding tips, nutrient losses due to saturation, and management tips for crusted fields. For growers who still have canola to seed around crop insurance deadlines, we …
Have a conversation with crop insurance
While the general Saskatchewan crop insurance deadline to have crops seeded is June 20, the actual date for canola differs by rural municipality and by variety. For example, at R.M. 459 around Melfort, the deadline for one canola hybrid is June 7 while the deadline for another is June 9. This information is not available on the SCIC website, so …
Excess moisture restricts nutrient uptake, speeds N loss
Canola is quite susceptible to water logging and shows a yield reduction after only three days. The key is that wet soils cause an oxygen deficiency, which reduces root respiration and growth. Root failure reduces nutrient uptake, and plants can die. CCC senior agronomy specialist Derwyn Hammond provided this photo of his own canola field. His farm near Brandon got close …
Consider higher spray rates
Weed growth will resume quickly when conditions get warm and the rains stop. Then it will be at least a day or two after that before fields are dry enough to drive on and before crop stressed by frost or excess moisture recover enough to allow good tolerance of herbicide. That means bigger weeds to content with. In that case, …
Take a plant stand count
While scouting for disease and insects, take time to assess the stand. If the stand is spotty and thin, be more conservative with thresholds when protecting the crop from insects, diseases and weed competition. Also, recording the average number of plants per square foot will help growers improve seeding methods for 2011. Stands of less than 4 or 5 …