Spring Rains and Snowfall but Seeding Still Progressing

In Manitoba, soil moisture is bordering on excess in many areas. Rainfall last week was quite general with most areas receiving one to two inches. However some areas of the southwest received as much as four inches. In the northwest, some areas received eight to 12 inches of snow on Thursday night/Friday morning. Producers are looking for warm, dry conditions to complete seeding. Overall about 15 to 20% of the canola crop has been seeded.

In Saskachewan, the eastern side of the province is experiencing adequate moisture conditions with many areas receiving rainfall or snow last week. One exception is a dry pocket near Aylsham and Carrot River. The western half of the province is dry and many areas are in need of moisture. Earliest seeded crops are beginning to emerge but are patchy. Additional moisture is needed for more even emergence. No precipitation was received in the dry pocket around Unity, Kerrobert, Kindersley, and Rosetown. Producers are seeding canola into dust or have stopped seeding until moisture conditions improve. Overall about 50% of the canola crop has been seeded.

In Alberta, soil moisture conditions are variable, ranging from excess to dry. In the extreme southwest near Cardston, fields are wet and very little seeding has occurred to date. Last week’s snow fell west of highway #2 so conditions remain relatively dry in the southeast. In the Peace River Region, wet snow has halted field operations but brought needed moisture to both southern and northern areas. Overall about 55 to 70% of the canola crop has been seeded.

Canola Seeding On-Going

Seeding operations were halted in many areas due to rain and snow last week and over the weekend. Where conditions are wet, canola seeding is about 10% to 30% complete. Where drier conditions prevail, canola seeding ranges from 50 to 100% complete. A significant amount of the acres intended for canola is expected to be seeded within the next week to 10 days – weather permitting and where soil moisture is not excessive.

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Where is the Sun?

Cool daytime and cold nighttime temperatures prevailed across the Prairies last week. Many areas reported frost on four or five nights with temperatures dipping as low as minus 7oC in some locations. Soil temperatures remain cool causing seeded crops to germinate and emerge very slowly. The following maps show growing degree days (GDD) that have accumulated thus far:
http://www.agr.gc.ca/pfra/drought/prtgdd_e.htm

In Manitoba, accumulated GDD are compared against a historical average at:
http://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/climate/wad00s00/cropwxrep.pdf

The number of days to 50% germination is a useful benchmark as the first half of plants to emerge usually accounts for the majority of crop yield. Research has shown much lower and slower canola germination at low temperatures. Soil temperatures above 5°C have little effect on the time to 50% germination, however the number of days to 50% germination increases dramatically at temperatures below 4°C (with germination taking as long as 9 days at 3°C or over 12 days at 2°C).The following link has more information on how temperature effects canola growth: http://www.canola-council.org/chapter5.aspx - ch5_sec1b

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Give the Sun a Chance to Work

With some areas having canola seeded for almost four weeks, the integrity and viability of the seed has started to be questioned. Much warmer temperatures (mid 20°C’s) are forecast for the coming days. Give the soil time to warm up (three to five days) before making any evaluations or decisions. Soil temperatures will lag behind air temperature so it is important to wait several days and allow the soil a chance to warm. Germination and emergence can happen quickly with warm soil temperatures.

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Time for a Germination Check

When scouting, scrape back the soil and find the seeds or seedlings as their condition is an important indicator of germination/emergence. Hard seeds are probably an indication that conditions have been too dry and/or cold to facilitate germination. Unless most of the seeds are soft and seed decay is taking place, additional moisture and/or warmer temperatures may be all that is needed. If the seed coat is cracked, note the structure of the developing seedling. Seedling turgidity is a function of the emerging hypocotyl remaining rigid and having enough moisture to push through the soil surface. The healthy emerging hypocotyl will be firm and white. If moisture in the seeding zone runs out during emergence, the hypocotyl will dry out and discolour, often turning brown and wilt. This phenomenon is common in areas where soil surface moisture has dried out due to wind or lack of rainfall. The result is patchy emergence. It is often misdiagnosed as a seedling disease complex such as damping off. Cool, dry soil conditions are often the main culprit in poor emergence due to lack of seedling turgidity.

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Give the Crop the Edge

This spring’s growing conditions are extremely stressful for canola seedlings and can severely affect germination and emergence. As a result, assume (best-case scenario) average emergence will occur. It is realistic to assume only 50% of the seeds planted will result in healthy seedlings. Recognizing that yield potential starts to drop when seeding is delayed after mid-May - what can be done to maximize seedling survival prior to planting?

If seeding into cold, dry soils consider the following strategies:
• Chasing moisture is not the way to go. Seed shallow and wait for spring rains.
• Target a consistent seeding depth of ½" to 1". It may be necessary to slow down to achieve this consistency.
• Because of changing soil conditions and the potential for mechanical issues with drills, check the seeding depth periodically, particularly when moving field to field.
• Maintain a reasonable seeding rate or potentially bump seeding rates up by 10%.
• Canola seed size can be quite variable. Take note of the seed size (TSW should be marked on seed tags or seed bags) and adjust seeding rates accordingly. A seeding rate calculator can help with the planning: http://www.agric.gov.ab.ca/app19/calc/crop/otherseedcalculator.jsp
• Place fertilizer (in safe amounts) near the seed to optimize efficiency. Seed-placed phosphorous can give a pop-up effect especially under cool conditions.

For more seeding tips go to the SEED Smart information http://www.seedsmart.org/ from the Canola Council of Canada.

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Frost and Snow on Canola

Snow, freezing temperatures on four to five nights and in some areas, heavy frosts (as low as minus 7°C), occurred across the Prairies last week. This may prompt canola growers to consider reseeding. However, resist the urge to reseed immediately, as recovery may turn out to be better than expected, especially if seed has not yet germinated or the young seedlings have become acclimated to the cold. Snow may actually be beneficial as it can act like a blanket and insulate the crop, especially if the snow cover came prior to the most severe freezing temperatures. If the seed has not germinated and is still hard/firm, not soft/mushy, it will likely survive and just needs warmer conditions. After several days of near freezing temperatures, emerging canola that is near the surface or that emerged under cool conditions will undergo a gradual hardening process, allowing the plants to withstand freezing temperatures without serious damage. Studies have shown that early-seeded canola seedlings that had undergone hardening could withstand minus 8 to minus 12°C temperatures. Cooler conditions result in plants that are slower growing, producing smaller cells that have a higher concentration of soluble substances that make them more resistant to frost damage. This hardening off process helps defend plants against the chain of plant gene activities set off by cold weather that produce or degrade the proteins that protect plant cells. Wait at least three to five days or longer depending on growing conditions before making any decisions on canola crops. The desired plant population is approximately 10 plants/ft² but lower plant populations (as 3 to 4 plants/ft² in some circumstances) can be adequate, especially in late-emerging stands. It will likely be better to leave a thinner stand (provided it is unitform) than take the risk of late reseeding because maturity/early fall frost becomes a concern.

For more information on assessing frost damage in canola see the following link: https://canola-council.merchantsecure.com/canola_resources/product37.aspx

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Timing a Post-Seed, Pre-emergent Burnoff

Even weed growth and development has been slow this spring. However, in the coming days, if warmer temperatures prevail, weed growth and development are going to kick into high gear. So if planning a post-seed, pre-emergent burnoff be prepared to spray and don’t miss the window of opportunity. Weeds should be assessed post-seeding for mechanical damage and dust cover. Have equipment well maintained (sprayer calibrated, proper nozzles for desired water volume, etc.) and ready for use. Scout often and make herbicide selections in a timely manner. Canola germination and emergence will also be accelerated once the soil temperature warms and cotyledons may start appearing in a few days. Do not apply glyphosate (on non-Roundup Ready varieties) after ground crack (first sign of emergence) as significant crop damage can occur. Always read and follow product labels before application.

For more information on registered herbicide options for pre-seed or pre-emergent weed control in canola see the following links:
http://www.agric.gov.ab.ca/app23/herbsel
http://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/crops/cropproduction/gaa01d01.html
http://www.agriculture.gov.sk.ca/Guide_to_Crop_Protection

The following links provide more information on maximizing herbicide performance in cool conditions:
http://www.monsanto.ca/_pdfs/seeds_traits/gk_alert.pdf
http://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/crops/weeds/fab04s02.html

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Flea Beetles are Warming Up Too

Despite the cool conditions last week, more and more flea beetle feeding on volunteer canola seedlings was observed. Even activity from the crucifer-type, which prefers warmer conditions has been noticed. If temperatures warm to predicted daytime highs (of 20°C or more) in the coming days, flea beetle activity/feeding will intensify. Protection from seed treatments starts when the seeds are first put into the soil, not when the plant emerges. Protection may be tapering off in some of the earliest seeded fields. As conditions warm up, be on the lookout for more widespread flea beetle activity. Scout thoroughly and often to determine if additional control measures are required. The economic threshold for flea beetle control is when 25% or more of the cotyledons are damaged.

 The following link provides more information on flea beetles:
http://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/crops/insects/fad09s00.html

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Collect Your Wireworms

Wireworm has been seen in fields that have been taken out of perennial forage in southern Alberta. Fields that were just recently taken out of perennial forage production should be evaluated for canola production suitability. Since there are no control measures for wireworm in canola, this must be done on a field-by-field basis. AAFC is conducting a wireworm survey and encourages samples be submitted. If wireworms are found while scouting, collect one or more and place them in a small container (eg. film roll container or pill bottle) along with some loose soil. The identification of which species of wireworm are occurring in which areas will help with developing control measures in the future. Samples can be sent to:

AAFC Agassiz

Attention - Todd Kabaluk

6947 Highway 7
PO Box 1000
Agassiz, British Columbia V0M 1A0

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Clean for Clubroot

A soil test in west-central Saskatchewan has shown the potential presence of the clubroot pathogen’s DNA. Further testing is being conducted to confirm the results and determine whether the pathogen is viable. This incidence emphasizes the importance of equipment cleaning, especially when moving from affected or suspected areas to clubroot-free areas. Check the following news release from SaskCanola for more information:

http://www.saskcanola.com/news/2009-0504-clubroot.html

For more information on cleaning equipment and other precautions go to www.clubroot.ca

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Questions & Contacts

Direct questions regarding this report to John Mayko, Senior Agronomy Specialist with the Canola Council of Canada at maykoj@canolacouncil.org, 780-764-2593.

Direct specific questions regarding regional issues to one of the following Canola Council of Canada regional agronomists or provincial oilseed specialists:

Derwyn Hammond, Senior Agronomy Specialist Manitoba, hammondd@canolacouncil.org, 204-729-9011
Anastasia Kubinec, Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives, anastasia.kubinec@gov.mb.ca, 204-745-5645

Jim Bessel, Senior Agronomy Specialist, Central Saskatchewan,

besselj@canolacouncil.org, 306-373-6771

Tiffany Gutzke, Agronomy Specialist, Eastern Saskatchewan, gutzket@canolacouncil.org, 306-231-3663
Venkata Vakulabharanam, Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture, Venkata.Vakulabharanam@gov.sk.ca, (306)787-4668
Doug Moisey, Senior Agronomy Specialist, East Central Alberta and Northwestern Saskatchewan, moiseyd@canolacouncil.org, 780-645-9205
Matthew Stanford, Agronomy Specialist, Southern Alberta and Southwestern Saskatchewan, stanfordm@canolacouncil.org, 403-345-4852
Erin Brock, Agronomy Specialist, Peace Region, brocke@canolacouncil.org,
780-568-3326
Murray Hartman, Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development, murray.hartman@gov.ab.ca, 403-782-8024
Kerry Clark, BC Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, Kerry.Clark@gov.bc.ca,
250-784-2559

The Canola Watch Report provides just-in-time information on canola production to growers and industry. Contributors to the Canola Agronomy Network are:

Alberta Canola Producers Commission; Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development, Saskatchewan Canola Development Commission, Saskatchewan Canola Growers Association, Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture, Manitoba Canola Growers Association, Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives, Peace River Agriculture Development Fund, B.C. Ministry of Agriculture & Lands, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, and the Canola Council of Canada.