Canola Community Connections

INDUSTRY UPDATE:
Canadian Grain Commission’s Harvest Sample Program is accepting samples from farmers until November 30. These samples are important for preparing the canola annual report. Samples are aggregated by grade and location so the quality and the grade distribution reflect the crop quality of each crop district or agricultural census. Plus, submitting canola samples, provides growers with: (1) unofficial grade, (2) dockage assessment and (3) oil, protein and chlorophyll content. Click for here for sample kits and more information.

INCENTIVE:
Apply by November 30 for Canola 4R Advantage funding: The CCC is now accepting applications for year two of Canola 4R Advantage, which provides funding to help pay (up to $20,000 per eligible BMP per farm) for BMPs focused on nitrogen management, including soil testing, field zone mapping and enhanced efficiency fertilizers. Applications are currently open until November 30, 2023 and can be initiated by a grower or their 4R designated agronomist through a new digital platform.

INDUSTRY UPDATE:
The Canadian Grain Commission’s updates to the Official Grain Grading Guide went into effect on Aug 1, 2023. For canola, the updates provide important clarity in assessing dockage. The Guide now clarifies the smallest slotted sieve (0.28) should be used first, and the larger sizes only to clean for grade improvement. The change defines the process, eliminates a degree of subjectivity, and allows for clearer understanding by farmers.

EVENT:
Applications are now open for SaskCanola’s Learn to Lead workshop. Nov 22-24, 2023. Preliminary agenda information and an application form can be found here. A video from last year’s workshop is available here. The event runs Wednesday evening (Nov 22) from 5-8pm, all day Thursday (Nov 23) including a formal evening reception, and half of Friday (Nov 24).

RESOURCE:
The Keep it Clean – Pre-Harvest Tips & Tools Webinar was held August 1, 2023. A recording of the webinar is available here. Topics covered included proper staging for pre-harvest glyphosate application, the importance of following pre-harvest intervals for crop protection products and scouting for disease.

FREE DISEASE TESTING:
SaskCanola is once again conducting its free disease testing program, which includes testing for clubroot and blackleg as per previous years. More information is available here. Verticillium stripe is not included in SaskCanola’s free disease testing, but growers are still encouraged to send in samples for testing.
Free disease testing is also available in Manitoba. More information is available here.

DISEASE REPORTING AND TRACKING:
The Prairie Crop Disease Monitoring Network has updated their Quick Disease Reporter Tool to make it easier to use. Reporting is now done on a municipality basis across the Prairie region with no need to submit field-specific information. More information is available here. Please participate! The success of this tool is dependent on participation: more reporting allows better information and more timely action for all.  

SURVEY:
Should SaskCanola & SaskFlax amalgamate? Have your say here. The online consultation runs July 1 – Nov 17, 2023.

SURVEY:
NEW LINK: Canola storage survey: The University of Manitoba is conducting a Canola Drying survey to inform research projects for canola growers on grain drying and storage. The 19-question survey can be done in as little as 10 minutes and all responses collected will be anonymous. Aggregated results will be published in a farm journal. The survey is available here. 

SURVEY:
Cover Cropping on the Canadian Prairies Survey. Masters student Jodi Holzman is surveying farmers with cover crop experience to collect production methods on growing cover crops on the Canadian Prairies. General results and best practices gathered will be made available to producers. The survey will take approximately 30 minutes to complete. Click here to access the survey. Please read the preamble before starting.

SUPPORT:
Are you or is someone you know feeling burnt out, unreasonably stressed or exhausted? Help is available.
– Support lines by province 
– Do More Ag Foundation
– Manitoba Farmer Wellness Program

SAFETY: Think safety first. Farm safety resources are available from the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association.