January 9, 2014
Rotation between canola crops has known benefits for management of blackleg, clubroot and root maggot and an overall improvement in canola yield. A one-year break between canola crops provides a clear yield advantage over back to back canola, according to crop insurance data. A two-year break improves on blackleg management when compared to a one-year break. (The graph above is…
December 11, 2013
Meaningful seed comparisons usually have the following features: 1. It comes from at least 15-20 sites, ideally from more than one year. 2. Statistical analysis is performed on the data to test its reliability. This analysis will also identify real statistically-supported differences between treatments or varieties. 3. Trials should follow a protocol applied across all sites. Without a protocol, differences…
December 11, 2013
The ideal canola stand will have 7-10 plants per square foot. Canola needs a minimum of 4-5 plants per square foot, on average, to reach its yield potential. A few extra plants improves the chance of hitting yield targets, and allows for some plant loss to insects and disease. Canola with plant populations below 4-5 per square foot can still…
October 2, 2013
The ideal plant stand is 7 to 14 plants per square foot, and any canola crop with fewer than 5 plants per square foot is not reaching its yield potential. A fall count of stems provides an end-of-season assessment of this year’s stand…
September 5, 2013
Harvest plant counts can help growers determine if their seeding was adequate to reach the crop’s yield potential. A compilation of stand establishment research shows that canola generally needs at least 4-5 plants per square foot to reach its yield potential. But is this true for all varieties, all crop inputs packages, and all growing conditions? We don’t know. Growers…
July 31, 2013
Some canola fields are exhibiting missing or stunted pods at the top or middle of stems. Pods in some fields have been described as green on the ends and translucent in the middle. The most likely cause is environmental. The few days above 30°C in early July would certainly cause flower abortion, and the hormone response to a couple days…
June 26, 2013
Wet soils cause an oxygen deficiency, which reduces root respiration and growth. Root failure reduces nutrient uptake, and plants will eventually die unless drowned areas dry out quickly. A few days in waterlogged soil can be enough to kill canola plants, and yield loss is certain — although as canola plants age, they tend to be more resilient…
June 19, 2013
You have to scout to know what’s going on in the fields. Here are 10 things to look for this week. 10 – Gopher damage (Richardson ground squirrels or pocket gophers) Read more. 9 – Environmental damage – frost or wind 8 – Wild buckwheat. Read more. 7 – Herbicide efficacy. Is weed control what you expected? If not, why…
June 12, 2013
If plant counts are lower than you expected based on your seeding rate, taking time now to figure out why will help fix the problem for next year. Use the Canola Diagnostic Tool to help. While scouting, look for the following, which will help with the diagnosis:…
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