Canola Production Centre 1999 annual report

Project Summary

Background

The Canola Council of Canada initiated Canola Production Centres to address the ongoing need for canola production technology transfer as identified during the Grow with Canola program (1985-1990). The Canola Production Centres were a joint effort between producer groups, industry representatives, and government and extension personnel. Field scale agronomic trials utilizing commercial farm equipment were conducted at the sites, and the information generated utilized for extension activities throughout the year.

Following tours of the Canola Production Centre near Carman, MB in 1996 and 1997 the Minnesota Canola Council sought funding for a joint project between the Minnesota Canola Council, University of Minnesota and Canola Council of Canada. The purpose of the project was to establish a Canola Production Centre site in Minnesota, and the role of the Canola Council of Canada was to provide expertise and supervisory support. This would help ensure that activities at this site would be consistent with activities at the Canadian CPCs. This allowed the information from all sites to be easily shared. Funding for the project was approved in April 1998, and the Minnesota Canola Production Centre program was born.

Purpose

Many years ago the Canola Council of Canada ran Canola Production Centres to address the ongoing need for canola production technology transfer. The Canola Production Centres were a joint effort between producer groups, industry representatives and provincial governments and their extension personnel.

The goal of the Canola Production Centre program was to improve the quality and yield of the Canadian canola crop, thereby improving profitability for both producers and processors. The Canola Production Centres provided a focal point for the transfer of canola production technology, thus enhancing interaction among the various industry participants. The specific goals of the program were to increase the yield of oil and protein, and to increase the margin per unit of production.

The program consisted of four components:

1. Canola Production Centres operated on a field scale, addressing a wide range of agronomic topics of regional and national interests.
2. Satellite locations operated on a field scale, addressing one or two topics of interest to the local community.
3. Communications through distribution of the results from the Canola Production Centres in annual regional reports and multi-year summaries, and extension activities.
4. Agronomic research conducted by either public or private research organisations in conjunction with the activities of the Canola Council at Canola Production Centres.

A series of summer tours were held throughout the growing season at the main Canola Production Centres that allowed the opportunity to view the various projects. All sites were signed and copies of site plans were available at the entrances to allow for self-guided tours at any time other than scheduled tour dates.

Quantitative information obtained from the Canola Production Centres included many agronomic factors such as early season plant counts, crop yields and lodging ratings on varieties.

1999 Canola Production Centre overview

The 1999 annual report includes results (from the Canadian locations) on:

• economic analysis
• variety trial
• harvestability trial
• seed treatment trial
• seeding date and time of weed removal trial
• reseeding trial
• weed removal timing trial
• sulphur source trial
• top dressed sulphur and nitrogen trial
• fertilizer rate and variety trial
• systems comparison trial
• weed and disease control trials
• sclerotinia stem rot (white mold) control trials
• diamondback moth evaluation trial
• root maggot monitoring trial
• cabbage seedpod weevil trial
• seeding rate trial
• precision farming trial

1999 Minnesota Canola Production Centre overview

The 1999 annual report includes results on:

• economic analysis
• variety trial
• harvestability trial
• reseeding trial
• seed placement trial
• sclerotinia stem rot (white mold) control trial
• seed treatment trial
• straight combining vs swathing trial
• systems comparison trial
• weed removal timing trials

There were many organizations, companies, sponsors and supporters who contributed to this program. See the report for details.