Patchwork of Yellow

Crop growth and development progressed quite well last week with most of the crop in western Canada in the flowering stage (20% to full bloom). Earliest seeded fields are beginning to pod and re-seeded fields are at or near bolting. All areas continue to report that the canola crops are ‘stagey’ – a wide range of plant stages within an individual field due to earlier season stresses. This variable staging continues to be a concern for fungicide timing in parts of Manitoba where, when necessary, portions of a field are being sprayed. If staging remains variable, harvest timing will require more management. Tips for harvest management when variable stages are present will appear in future Canola Watch issues as the season progresses. Overall, most areas continue to report crop development as later than normal (about one to two weeks). Continued heat for growing degree day accumulation and additional rainfall are needed in many areas to bring crop development up to normal.

The latest crop report from Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture is available at: http://www.agriculture.gov.sk.ca/crprpt090716
The latest crop report from Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development is available at:
http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/sdd4191#2009
The following maps show growing degree days accumulating across western Canada this growing season:http://www.agr.gc.ca/pfra/drought/prtgdd_e.htm