Canola Watch

2007 Canola Watch Reports

#2 Western Canada – May 9, 2007

In this issue:
(click the bookmark links below to move to specific sections of this report)

Manitoba canola growers continue to lead seeding progress
Soil moisture conditions good to excessive
Soil temperatures generally good
Growers urged to soil test
Good control of early weed growth is key
Book required canola herbicides including burn-off products
Check previous herbicide use on fields planned for canola
Do not seed deregistered canola varieties
Canola is emerging; start scouting fields 7-10 days after seeding
Seeding late?  Stay cool and do it right!
Broadcast seeding not generally recommended
Celan trucks and equipment to prevent clubroot spread

The Alberta Canola Producers Commission (ACPC) has developed an Alberta focused version of this report. Visit the ACPC website at: http://www.canola.ab.ca

Canola seeding continues to make good progress throughout most of Manitoba as well as in southern Saskatchewan and southern Alberta. Some areas of eastern Manitoba report up to 80% of the canola acres seeded. Some seeding has occurred in central and western parts of Saskatchewan as well as parts of east central Alberta. The remaining areas are still wet and awaiting drying conditions and are several days to over a week away from seeding, even with favourable weather. The majority of fieldwork to date in these areas has been limited to field preparation such as rock picking, harrowing, soil sampling and fertilizer application.

Soil moisture conditions range from good to excessive across most of western Canada. Many areas of Manitoba and southern Saskatchewan that were getting dry last week experienced welcome rains ranging from 5 mm to over 75 mm, although some pockets of dryness remain in parts of southern and central Saskatchewan. Most areas of Alberta and western Saskatchewan also received rains last week ranging from 10 mm to over 100 mm.  Areas including northern and northeastern Saskatchewan, central Alberta north of Calgary, and most of the Peace region remain wet from the combination of recent rains and winter precipitation.

For current maps of moisture conditions from PFRA for western Canada, check the following links for precipitation since September 1 and April 1 respectively:
http://www.agr.gc.ca/pfra/drought/prpay07_e.htm
http://www.agr.gc.ca/pfra/drought/prpgs07_e.htm

The latest crop report from Manitoba Agriculture, Food & Rural Initiatives is available at: http://web2.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/mwcr/index.php

The latest crop report from Saskatchewan Agriculture, Food & Rural Revitalization is available at:
http://www.agr.gov.sk.ca/docs/reports/crop_report/crprpt070506.asp

Additional moisture information for Alberta is available from Alberta Environment at:
http://www3.gov.ab.ca/env/water/WS/data/precipmaps/weekly.pdf

Soil temperatures remain generally good for this time of year in most areas of the prairies due to the seasonable temperatures in most regions. Many areas report soil temperatures of over 5 degrees C, although some pockets of cooler temperatures remain. Data collected from the Canola Council CPC trials has shown that allowing the soil to warm to at least 5 degrees C before seeding will encourage the crop to emerge quickly and more evenly. Quick, even emergence can help reduce problems throughout the growing season, from seedling disease to uniformity of maturity at harvest.

Soil testing is even more important this year.  The combination of record or near record crop yields last year and possible denitrification from wet conditions over the fall, winter and spring may have led to the likelihood of low soil nutrients, especially nitrogen. More than ever, growers need to do a proper soil test to determine levels of available nutrients especially in light of record fertilizer prices. Growers should soil test down to 24 inches to determine their soil nitrogen status at various depths in the soil profile. For further background information on the importance of spring soil testing, refer to the following Canol@Fact: http://www.canola-council.org/PDF/Canola_Fact_Sheet_Oct27.pdf
 
Winter annual weeds, volunteer canola, dandelion and quackgrass are showing up in many areas due to the combination of favorable moisture conditions and reasonable soil temperatures. Growers are strongly encouraged to assess the number, growth stage and types of weeds present prior to burn-off applications. This will assist in determining the proper product or tank-mix as well as the rate that may be required. For those growers relying on post seeding pre-emergent burn-off applications, keep in mind that many areas are reporting canola emergence within a week of seeding, due to ample moisture and warm soils. Monitor carefully for emergence prior to spraying to avoid crop damage. Control of early germinating weeds is important in minimizing moisture and nutrient loss and reducing crop competition to establish a healthy and competitive crop stand. For more information on early season weed control, refer to the following web-link from Reduced Tillage Linkages: http://reducedtillage.ca/docs/Pre-seed%20Weed%20Control%20revised%20April%202007.PDF

In light of the heavy weed pressure in many areas combined with near record canola acreage, growers are strongly encouraged to book their required quantities of both burn-off and in-crop products to ensure required quantities will be available when needed.  There have been some reports of localized shortages of various herbicide burn-off products.
 
Herbicide rotations need to be monitored for potential residual problems, especially in areas where dry soils are reported, and growing season precipitation was low last year. Look back at least two years to check herbicide rotations. Potential problems may occur with repeated use of Group 2 herbicides. If there is a risk of herbicide carryover in a field, consider growing a less susceptible crop.

Make sure seeded canola varieties are Canola Export Ready – It is imperative that growers do not seed any deregistered varieties that may impact export markets. Refer to the Canola Council of Canada website link for more information on the Canola Export Ready program and on which varieties and pesticides are not approved for use in Canada:
http://www.canola-council.org/export_ready.html

Emergence of canola seeded in late April and early May is occurring in parts of Manitoba and southern Saskatchewan. Remember to begin scouting fields by 7 to 10 days after seeding to detect germination problems early. With ample moisture and warm soils, emergence can begin to take place within a week. Refer to the following Canol@Fact for more information: http://www.canola-council.org/PDF/seed_to_21days.pdf#zoom=100

Although seeding may be delayed in many areas of Saskatchewan and Alberta compared to the last few years, growers should not be pushing the panic button yet. The combination of good to excellent soil moisture combined with favourable soil temperatures is ideal for rapid and even emergence as long as the proper seeding techniques are used. Seed shallow to facilitate rapid emergence, ideally at a depth of ½ to ¾ of an inch. Keep any pre-seeding tillage shallow to help maintain the seedbed firmness and moisture. Make sure that seeding rates are high enough to establish the target of 7-14 plants/ft2. Apply recommended rates of phosphorus fertilizer for the “pop-up effect” in cooler areas to ensure more uniform crop maturity. Watch your seed-placed fertilizer rates, especially if topsoil moisture conditions begin to dry out.  Refer to the Canol@Fact (http://www.canola-council.org/PDF/plant_pop_profit.pdf ) for further information on establishing proper plant populations and to the following link (http://www.canola-council.org/PDF/Apr5%20Canola_Charts.pdf ) for tables estimating plant populations under different survival levels.

Broadcast seeding may be tempting with the delay in seeding progress due to wet weather. In general, broadcast seeding is not recommended. Usually, broadcast seeding results in lower yields compared to drill seeding. However, producers faced with wet conditions that limit equipment flotation plus the risk of fall frost may wish to consider broadcast seeding. Here are some tips for enhancing the success of broadcast seeding.

• Increase seeding rates slightly to compensate for non-uniform seed depth. Consider lightly cultivating (2-4 cm) or harrowing to incorporate the seed into the soil if soil conditions allow. Avoid creating lumps or clods during cultivation or straw piles with harrows or cultivators.
• If broadcasting fertilizer as well as seed, be aware that broadcast phosphorus is only about half as efficient as banded phosphorous. There can also be greater risk of denitrification on saturated soils or volatilization from improper fertilizer incorporation, reducing N fertilizer efficiency. Adjust fertilizer rates accordingly, keeping in mind a realistic target yield based on the time of year and field conditions.

Soil movement is the principal means of clubroot spread, so make sure field equipment and trucks are properly cleaned. Wet conditions around the Edmonton area are likely to result in increased mud and soil on equipment. Growers in the clubroot affected areas of the Counties of Sturgeon, Parkland, Leduc and Strathcona should be especially vigilant about cleaning the soil off their equipment before moving from one field to another.

Direct questions regarding this report to John Mayko, Senior Agronomist, Parkland West (West Central AB), with the Canola Council of Canada at maykoj@canola-council.org  ph/fax: 780-764-2593.

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

Derwyn Hammond, Agronomist, Manitoba, hammondd@canola-council.org, 204-729-9011
Arvel Lawson, Manitoba Agriculture, Food & Rural Initiatives, Arvel.Lawson@gov.mb.ca, 204-745-0340
David Vanthuyne, Agronomist, Eastern Saskatchewan, vanthuyd@canola-council.org, 306-782-7799
Jim Bessel, Senior Agronomist, North-central/eastern Saskatchewan, besselj@canola-council.org, 306-373-6771
Penny Pearse/Scott Hartley, Saskatchewan Agriculture, Food & Rural Revitalization, ppearse@agr.gov.sk.ca / shartley@agr.gov.sk.ca , 306-787-4671 / 306-787-4669
Doug Moisey, Agronomist, Parkland East (East Central AB & NW SK), moiseyd@canola-council.org, 780-645-3624
Matthew Stanford, Agronomist, Chinook (Southern AB & SW SK), stanfordm@canola-council.org, 403-758-6660
Anne Vos, Acting Agronomist, Peace Region, av@summit-ag.com, 780-835-4632
Murray Hartman, Alberta Agriculture, Food & Rural Development, murray.hartman@gov.ab.ca, 403-782-8024
Kerry Clark, BC Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, Kerry.Clark@gov.bc.ca,  250-784-255

The Canola Watch Report provides just-in-time information on canola production to growers and industry. Contributors to the Canola Agronomy Network are:
Manitoba Agriculture & Food; Manitoba Canola Growers Association; Agricore United; Saskatchewan Wheat Pool; United Farmers of Alberta; Saskatchewan Agriculture, Food & Rural Revitalization; Saskatchewan Canola Growers Association; Saskatchewan Canola Development Commission; Alberta Agriculture, Food & Rural Development; Alberta Canola Producers Commission; BC Ministry of Agriculture; Food & Fisheries; and the Canola Council of Canada.

« back