Seeding progress varies

Seeding progress varies from close to completion in east central and southern Manitoba, southwestern Saskatchewan, and southern Alberta between Medicine Hat and Lethbridge, to just getting started in northwestern Manitoba, northern Saskatchewan, north central Alberta, and many areas of the Peace region.

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Soil moisture widely variable

Some areas in west central Alberta received up to 1.5 inches, but many other areas reported only scattered showers. Pockets of dryness remain in southwestern Manitoba, parts of southeastern Saskatchewan, and the Coronation to Castor area of central Alberta. Lack of rainfall has delayed canola seeding in parts of southwestern Manitoba.

For current maps of moisture conditions from Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration (PFRA), check the following link: http://www.industrymailout.com/Industry/Redirect.aspx?u=105086&q=72477794&lm=11426940&r=91512&qz=95fe188d2b39e550c718e46e26102a0d

The latest crop report from Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives (MAFRI) is available at:

http://www.industrymailout.com/Industry/Redirect.aspx?u=105087&q=72477794&lm=11426940&r=91512&qz=3e2e4be7b7ff4399bd8ae310554570fb

The latest crop report from Saskatchewan Agriculture is available at:

http://www.industrymailout.com/Industry/Redirect.aspx?u=105088&q=72477794&lm=11426940&r=91512&qz=8662fd1c2775a33032cc1e60409e8e3c

Additional moisture information for Alberta is available from Alberta Environment at:

http://www.industrymailout.com/Industry/Redirect.aspx?u=105089&q=72477794&lm=11426940&r=91512&qz=78ba35fc3b2f7f84437c947d62170ef9
http://www.industrymailout.com/Industry/Redirect.aspx?u=105090&q=72477794&lm=11426940&r=91512&qz=da255ae3a4c989bad726c187d096f6ea

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Soil remains cool

Soil temperatures continue to slowly improve in many areas over the past week but still remain cool for this time of the year. Many areas continued to experience nightly frosts, which has delayed soil warming.

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Slow weed growth complicates burnoff applications

Cool conditions have slowed weed growth in many areas, complicating burnoff applications and leading some growers to consider postponing their burnoff until after seeding and before crop emergence. If going this route, remember that delays due to weather or other field operations increase the risk of missing the burnoff, which could be costly if the first flush of weed growth gets ahead of the crop. When scouting, get down on your hand and knees and move the trash away to see whether or not there are any small weeds beginning to emerge.

Control of early germinating weeds reduces competition for moisture and nutrients, which will help establish a healthy and competitive crop stand. Growers looking at controlling Roundup Ready canola volunteers before seeding canola, must not use any phenoxy (e.g. 2,4-D , MCPA) herbicide tank mixes in the burnoff, because residues from these herbicides are known to affect emerging canola. For more information on pre-seeding weed control, refer to the following link from Reduced Tillage Linkages: http://www.industrymailout.com/Industry/Redirect.aspx?u=105091&q=72477794&lm=11426940&r=91512&qz=640ecb3cdbf34677fcd8af2905ce5301

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Seeding reminders

Although soil moisture conditions are variable in many areas, growers must make sure to seed shallow to facilitate rapid emergence. The ideal depth is ½ to ¾ inch. Seeding too fast often results in variable seeding depth, which causes uneven or reduced emergence. If conditions are dry and growers are considering seeding deeper to chase available moisture, keep in mind that seeding depths beyond an inch have been shown to reduce emergence rates. If reaching moisture requires seeding much deeper than 1 inch, it may be better to stay shallow in anticipation that rain will come eventually, especially in soils prone to compaction or crusting. Keep any pre-seeding tillage shallow to help maintain seedbed firmness and moisture. Also, consider reducing the amount of seed-placed fertilizer as excessive amounts of fertilizer placed close to the seed will reduce and delay emergence, especially when soils are dry.

Keep seeding rate high enough to establish the target of 7-14 plants/ft². Refer to the following Canol@Fact sheets for further information on establishing proper plant populations:

Early Seeding Tips - http://www.industrymailout.com/Industry/Redirect.aspx?u=105092&q=72477794&lm=11426940&r=91512&qz=8ec7dc8ea5940c3e42260b62866b06ba
Plant Populations for Profitability – http://www.industrymailout.com/Industry/Redirect.aspx?u=105093&q=72477794&lm=11426940&r=91512&qz=71a8e77d055f894b9a9ad2ead2099344

While seeding, save the seed tags from bags of canola seed as well as a representative sample of the seed. Using a plastic bag, collect a seed sample from each bag or lot number and keep the blue tags. Document seeding rate and date. Save the sample in a cool, dry place. This is especially invaluable when trying to assess an emergence or early crop development problem to determine whether the seed might be a contributing factor.

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Seed splitting reported

Growers checking seed depth have noticed some seed splitting and damage. Seed damage can be caused by anything from high air speeds, sharp edges and obstructions in the air flow, to amount of seed-placed fertilizer, damage caused by loading augers, low seed moisture, and thin seed coats. To address concerns over seed damage, collect and keep samples of seed just out of the bag and after it has gone through the seeder. A good way to collect a seed sample is to tie a tube sock at the end of one or more seed rows and collect the seed after it has gone through the machine. Since seed-placed fertilizer can contribute to seed damage, consider: increasing the seeding rate if you are placing larger amounts of fertilizer with the seed (single shooting), and making sure air speeds are slow enough to minimize damage without plugging. Remember to adjust fan damper settings when double shooting to maintain slow air speeds for seed and high air speeds for fertilizer.

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Broadcast seeding

Delay of seeding due to wet conditions has some canola growers considering broadcast seeding. Broadcast seeding is not recommended. Usually, it results in lower yields compared to drill seeding. However, growers faced with field conditions that limit equipment flotation and who risk fall frost may wish to consider broadcast seeding. Here are some tips to improve the chances of success:

• 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, clods or straw piles with harrows or cultivators.
• If broadcasting fertilizer, be aware that broadcast phosphorus is only about half as efficient as banded phosphorous. There can be greater risk of denitrification on saturated soils or volatilization from improper fertilizer incorporation, reducing nitrogen fertilizer efficiency. Adjust fertilizer rates accordingly, keeping in mind a realistic target yield based on the time of year and field conditions.
• If broadcast seeding on drier soil, follow up with a light cultivation or heavy harrowing, followed by a packer operation to ensure good seed-to-soil contact and to conserve available soil moisture.

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Watch for flea beetles

Flea beetles continue to appear in sticky traps near Saskatoon and on volunteer canola in the Peace region despite relatively cool weather. Watch continuously for flea beetle activity on the newly emerging crop. Don’t assume that flea beetle activity is low because of cool weather. Striped flea beetles are known to be more active than crucifer flea beetles under cool conditions. For more information on identifying flea beetles, refer to the following link: http://www.industrymailout.com/Industry/Redirect.aspx?u=105094&q=72477794&lm=11426940&r=91512&qz=43ef5bd819a735e9cd2b6317ac447e56

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Check germination after 10 days

Some areas of southeastern Alberta and southern Saskatchewan and Manitoba have had canola in the ground for over three weeks, but reports of emergence have not always followed. This raises concerns about whether the seed will still be viable, especially under cool conditions. If surface emergence is not apparent, scrape back the soil and find the seeds. The condition of the seeds can help determine the cause of poor germination. Hard seeds are probably an indication that soil has been too dry and/or too cold to facilitate germination. Unless most of the seeds are soft and seed decay is taking place, additional moisture and/or warmer temperatures may correct the problem.

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 wilted. 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 like damping off. Cool, dry soil is often the main culprit for poor emergence due to lack of seedling turgidity.

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Are you Canola Export Ready?

With a few last-minute seeding decisions still to be made, it is imperative that growers do not seed any de-registered varieties that may impact export markets. Also, do not use older seed treatments that contain lindane. Refer to the Canola Council of Canada website for more information on the Canola Export Ready program and which varieties and pesticides are not approved for use in Canada: http://www.industrymailout.com/Industry/Redirect.aspx?u=105095&q=72477794&lm=11426940&r=91512&qz=33b93e873a92996f021b92363233c66c

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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@canola-council.org ph/fax: 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, Agronomy Specialist, Manitoba, hammondd@canola-council.org, 204-729-9011
Ingrid Kristjanson, Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives, Ingrid.Kristjanson@gov.mb.ca, 204 746-7504
David Vanthuyne, Agronomy Specialist, Eastern Saskatchewan, vanthuyd@canola-council.org,
306-946-3588
Venkata Vakulabharanam, Saskatchewan Agriculture, Venkata.Vakulabharanam@gov.sk.ca,
306-787-2594
Doug Moisey, Agronomy Specialist, Parkland East (East Central AB & NW SK),
moiseyd@canola-council.org, 780-645-3624
Matthew Stanford, Agronomy Specialist, Chinook (Southern AB & SW SK),
stanfordm@canola-council.org, 403-327-4832
Erin Brock, Agronomy Specialist, Peace Region, brocke@canola-council.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:

Manitoba Agriculture Food and Rural Initiatives; Manitoba Canola Growers Association; United Farmers of Alberta; Viterra; Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture; Saskatchewan Canola Growers Association; Saskatchewan Canola Development Commission; Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development; Alberta Canola Producers Commission; BC Ministry of Agriculture and Lands; Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, and the Canola Council of Canada.