Diseases that attack canola will be the main theme for the Canola Council of Canada’s three Canola Colleges this year. There will be one Canola College in each prairie province - Nisku, AB, Tuesday, February 26; Brandon, MB, Thursday, February 28; and Saskatoon, SK, Tuesday, March 4.

Derwyn Hammond, Council agronomy specialist in Manitoba, says the Colleges are planned to bring canola growers and their production advisors up to speed on assessing disease risk and managing diseases cost effectively.

“Canola Colleges continue to be an excellent source of valuable canola information, and we are always striving to improve them”, Hammond says. “In response to suggestions from this past year’s participants, we are tightening up the agenda to allow more travel time, so reserve your seat early!”, he adds.

If you have questions about Canola Colleges, contact Gail Hoskins at 1-204-982-2102 or 1-866-479-0853.

Topics for the 2008 Canola Colleges include:

Aster Yellows in Canola – Understanding leafhoppers and phytoplasmas;
What’s New with Blackleg? – Pathotypes, resistance ratings and other management alternatives;
Managing Sclerotinia – Assessing risk and making the most of chemical and biological control;
Clubroot Update – Situation analysis, management challenges and research initiatives.

Canola Council agronomy specialists will wrap up each College with a discussion of hot topics in canola agronomy such as changes to the variety testing system, seeding and harvest management, fertility issues, new insects, and other disease considerations. Hammond says this new session should offer participants an opportunity to ask questions not necessarily related to the theme of the day.

For more information in your area, contact:

Derwyn Hammond, Manitoba: 204-729-9011; David Vanthuyne, Eastern Saskatchewan: 306-782-7799; Jim Bessel, North Central & North Eastern Saskatchewan: 306-373-6771; Matthew Stanford, Southern Alberta & South Western Saskatchewan: 403-327-4832; Doug Moisey, East Central Alberta & West Central Saskatchewan: 780-645-3624; John Mayko, Western Alberta: 780-764-2593; Erin Brock, Peace Region: 780-933-0456.

This press release is part of the Canola Council’s Crop Production extension program. The program is supported regionally by:

Alberta Canola Producers Commission; Saskatchewan Canola Development Commission; Manitoba Canola Growers Association; Canola Council of Canada; Peace River Agriculture Development Fund; and B.C. Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries.