Upon further inspection this year of seed colour change, the canola crop is not as ripe as it looks in some areas. Some fields are showing significant pod colour change before the seeds do. As the calendar progresses and the risk of fall frost nears, it may be tempting to swath earlier than optimal. Growers must ensure that seed colour …
How to Swath with Variable Stages
For growers faced with uneven maturity within fields, it may not be possible to swath all the crop in the 50-60% seed colour change window. In situations where uneven maturity is the problem, the best approach is to swath when the most mature plants are close to 60% seed colour change, provided that the least mature plants are showing some …
Anchoring Short Canola Stands
Questions about swathing this year’s crop with low plant stands and shortened crop height are starting as the ability to anchor the swath to the stubble will likely be hampered. To reduce potential losses from swaths blowing, keep the following recommendations in mind: Swath parallel to the typical prevailing winds in the area Cut the plants as high as possible, …
Take Advantage of the View
Harvest is a good time to assess crop performance as well as crop management because producers have greater access to all areas of the field, and a unique visual perspective of the plants that have survived to maturity and are contributing to yield. While swathing, try to capture additional clues about why there may be underperforming acres and learn from …
In Some Locales, The Skies Opened Up
In Some Locales, The Skies Opened Up Across western Canada rainfall was common late last week and over the weekend. Rainfall amounts generally averaged one to two inches but some areas reported much more (three to five inches in parts of northern Manitoba including the Swan River Valley; in Saskatchewan: up to five inches near North Battleford, four inches …
Brief Heat, More Needed
The risk of an early fall frost and its impact on crop quality continues to be one of the greatest concerns. A few days of summer-like temperatures (high 20’s to low 30’s) appeared in a number of areas before the rains began and crop development was noticeably accelerated. However, it was not long-lived and it appears cool daytime temperatures and …
Possible to Reduce Frost Damage?
A number of products are being marketed to enhance the crops’ protection from environmental stresses such as frost. The Canola Council of Canada agronomists are not aware of any scientific research in western Canada to support such claims. Growers who are considering applying a product for such a purpose are encouraged to ask for scientific research data to help with …
Lygus Numbers Variable – Scout Thoroughly
Lygus populations continue to be monitored in the Peace Region of Alberta and BC and in southern Alberta. Populations are variable as many fields are exceeding economic thresholds (as much as three to four times higher) and still many others remain below threshold levels. Each field must be assessed for lygus on an individual basis. Scout all fields to determine …
Grasshoppers Migrating?
Grasshoppers appear to be migrating into canola fields to feed on pods in the drier parts of southwestern Manitoba and eastern Saskatchewan. Continue scouting for grasshoppers because if caught early, perimeter spraying may be all that is needed. A specific economic threshold for grasshoppers in canola has not been established as it is not a preferred host crop, but it …
How to Even-Out an Uneven Stand?
Council agronomists are starting to field a number of calls about how to hasten maturity of late canola plants within a field. Uneven fields are not good candidates for straight cutting. Applying a desiccant to an uneven crop will still leave too much green material and this material can cause significant problems in storage. With the stagey crops this year, …