-
Issues Archive
Use the expandable navigational menu on the left hand column to find a specific issue of Canola Watch by year, month and date.
December 23, 2011
Topics for the month
New CCC booth at January farm shows. The Canola Council of Canada and SaskCanola will be in a joint booth at the Crop Production Show in Saskatoon January 9-12. The CCC booth will be separate from the Manitoba Canola Growers Association booth at AgDays in Brandon January 17-19. And the CCC and Alberta Canola Producers […]
Crop Week, Saskatoon, Jan. 9-12
The Western Canadian Crop Production Show is at Prairieland Park January 9-12. SaskCanola and the Canola Council of Canada will have a joint booth at Prairieland Park all week. SaskCanola’s Producer Conference and AGM is Thursday, January 12 from 8:30 to 4:00 in Ballroom B of the Saskatoon Inn. Speakers include:
AgDays, Brandon, Jan. 17-19
Manitoba Canola Growers Association will host Canola Day on Tuesday, January 17 at AgDays. Presentations are that morning in Theatre 1. Speakers include:
FarmTech, Edmonton, January 24-26
Farm Tech’s agenda is packed with concurrent sessions on a wide variety of agronomy topics. Keynote speakers are General Rick Hillier on Leadership in Tough Times; Glen Hodgson, chief economist with the Conference Board of Canada; James Peck, U.K. farmer and Nuffield Scholar; and John Shmorhum, who will speak on farming in Ukraine. Register by January 6 for early bird savings.
Clubroot management: Equipment sanitation
The most common way to transfer soil from field to field is on farm machinery and vehicle tires. The CCC has a new guide with tips to clean equipment and prevent clubroot’s spread. The following article is a short summary of the guide.
Canola Watch 2011 CCA exam now available
The Canola Watch 2011 exam for Certified Crop Advisors (CCAs) is now available. CCA CEU’s pending.
December 13, 2011
Canola seed trial results now available
December 13, 2011 — Comparative data on canola seed varieties is now available to growers from the new Canola Performance Trials (CPT) 2011. The CPT 2011 represents the next generation in variety evaluation for Western Canadian canola growers, providing science-based, unbiased and timely performance data that reflects actual production practices, as well as comparative […]
December 8, 2011
Topics for the month
Crop planning. Recognize the value of diversity. The more growers do to vary their practices — including rotation of crops, pest control products, and varieties — the harder it will be for diseases, insects and weeds to adapt and increase. This can provide a long-term economic benefit. Check bins and bags. Agronomy surveys show that […]
Rotations for yield
A recent Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada study found that growing peas and, to a lesser degree, lentils the year prior to canola can enhance canola yield. Canola on canola stubble will generally have lower yields than canola on other stubble.
Rotations for pest resistance management
Lack of crop diversity can increase the density of pests in a field. The higher the population of a pest in a field, the higher the risk of developing resistance to the pesticides (herbicide, fungicides or insecticides) used for controlling the pest in those fields.
Rotations for disease management
Blackleg resistance is starting to show cracks in some areas where tight canola rotations have become normal practice. This is a reminder that the long-term viability of genetic resistance does require some rotation management on the growers’ part. This may be particularly true for clubroot resistant canola varieties, which have become a key clubroot management tool for growers with heavy clubroot infestations.
Rotations for insect control
New research shows a statistically significant increase in crop damage by root maggots in continuous canola rotations. This increased damage coincided with reduced yields.
Rotations for weed management
The success of herbicide tolerant canola technology to control weeds is one reason why canola rotations have tightened. Economical weed control has increased canola profits. But the reduction in crop diversity can allow some weeds (and insects and diseases) adapted to growing with canola to increase in density and intensity. This places increased pressure on the chemical tools used to manage these pests, thereby increasing the risk of resistance to those products. Consider rotating weed management practices.
Rotations for profitability
Taking a risk on a tight canola rotation may be the better economic decision for their farm that year. But having some diversity can help manage economic risk in the long term.
Coming events
Crop Production Week, Saskatoon, January 9-12. SaskCanola’s meeting is Thursday, January 12. The Canola Council of Canada will join SaskCanola at its booth at the Crop Production Show all week. AgDays, Brandon, January 17-19. Manitoba Canola Growers Association hosts Canola Day on Tuesday, January 17. Farm Tech, Edmonton, January 24-26. Alberta Canola Producers Commission holds […]