Canola Responding to Better Conditions

Canola Responding to Better Conditions

Timely rains over the past week and weekend brought moisture to many parts of western Canada. This, along with seasonal temperatures resulted in the canola crop progressing nicely. Earliest seeded fields are in the 20% to full bloom stage and re-seeded fields are 4-leaf to bolting. Many areas report adequate moisture. Other areas (southwest Manitoba, southwest Saskatchewan and Central Alberta) will require additional rainfall within the next week to 10 days. Otherwise, moisture deficiency stress will begin to appear. Parts of eastern and Interlake regions of Manitoba continue to be wet with excess moisture stress evident. The recent moisture has resulted in reasonably improved crop conditions, even in some areas where it was believed to have come too late. Previously stressed crops are now branching and appear to be providing better ground cover.

Maps of current moisture conditions in western Canada from PFRA are available at:
http://www.agr.gc.ca/pfra/drought/prpay09_e.htm
http://www.agr.gc.ca/pfra/drought/prpgs09_e.htm
Additional moisture information for Alberta is available from Alberta Environment at:
http://www.environment.alberta.ca/forecasting/data/precipmaps/weekly.pdf