Canola Watch

2006 Canola Watch Reports

Canola Watch Report No. 3 Western Canada – May 10, 2006

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

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 progress slowly across western Canada – ranging from 90% completed in the eastern Peace region near Falher to just getting started in western Manitoba, northern Saskatchewan and parts of north-central Alberta. Seeding was just getting underway in many areas over the weekend, but recent rain and snow have again delayed the start of full fledged, widespread seeding.

Soil moisture conditions continue to range from poor to excessive across western Canada. Recent precipitation ranged from a trace up to 50 mm. Areas of eastern, northern and northwestern Saskatchewan and southern Manitoba remain wet and in need of warm and dry weather before general field operations can begin. Small pockets of dryness remain in parts of southwestern Saskatchewan and parts of central Alberta near Red Deer are experiencing dry topsoil moisture. Most of the Peace Region’s topsoil remains very dry.

For current maps of moisture conditions from PFRA for western Canada, check the following links for precipitation since September 1 and May 3:
http://www.agr.gc.ca/pfra/drought/prpay06_e.htm
http://www.agr.gc.ca/pfra/drought/prpgs06_e.htm

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

The latest crop report from Saskatchewan Agriculture, Food & Rural Revitalization is available at:
http://www.agr.gov.sk.ca/docs/reports/crop_report/crprpt060507.pdf

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

Soil test results to date continue to indicate a wide range in amounts of available soil nutrient levels. For further background information on the importance of spring soil testing, refer to the following Canola Council of Canada press release:
http://www.canola-council.org/about-us/media-news/media-releases/media-apr1906.html

Favorable soil moisture conditions and warm soils in most of the prairies continue to foster considerable weed growth for this time of year, especially winter annuals, cleavers, narrow-leaved hawksbeard, wild buckwheat, dandelion, quackgrass, kochia and volunteer canola. A relatively uncommon weed, whitlow grass, has been found in a few fields in northeast Alberta and northwest Saskatchewan. For additional information on this weed, go to the following link from Syngenta:
http://www.syngenta.ca/en/guides/weed/index.asp?Nav=whitlow_grass

Most areas have reported a large increase in pre-seed burn-off applications, resulting in shortages of lower priced glyphosate herbicides at some retail locations. Growers are strongly encouraged to assess the number and types of weeds present as well as their growth stage. Be sure to stage weeds properly and choose the right rate of glyphosate for burn-off applications and required tank-mixes to take care of special weed concerns such as Roundup Ready volunteers. Be especially aware of the limitations for some product tank mixes before seeding canola. Check the following links for tables of available burn-off products by crop and weeds controlled:
http://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/crops/cropproduction/gaa01d29.html

For more information on current product recommendations, check the following links from the provincial governments for their respective Crop Protection Guides:
http://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/crops/cropproduction/gaa01d01.html
http://www.agr.gov.sk.ca/DOCS/crops/cropguide00.asp
http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/agdex32?opendocument

In the event that a pre-seed burn-off is not feasible, a post-seeding, pre-emergent burn-off may be an option. Growers need to ensure that they complete a post-seeding burn-off soon after seeding, before crop emergence occurs (except for Roundup Ready canola which can be sprayed with glyphosate any time before the six-leaf stage). With ample soil moisture and warm soil temperatures, weed growth will advance quickly. To reduce losses in crop yield potential from weed competition, growers should also ensure that they are able to spray these fields early with their in-crop herbicide applications in case the opportunity for a burn-off application is missed. 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 Canola Council of Canada media release and Canol@Fact:
http://www.canola-council.org/about-us/media-news/media-releases/media-apr1805.html
http://www.canola-council.org/PDF/CPCweedcontrol.pdf#zoom=100

Remember that herbicide-resistant weeds arise following repeated use of the same herbicide or herbicide group for a number of years on the same field. Rotate herbicides to delay resistance. It may be more cost effective to use a burn-off product before planting to control any herbicide resistant or hard to control weeds that have already emerged rather than rely solely on an in-crop herbicide.

Make sure seeded canola varieties are Canola Export Ready - Reports from most areas indicate that there is still some indecision about canola varieties. With decisions still to be made, 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

Many producers have been asking about safe rates of seed placed fertilizer. Although seed row placement of N fertilizer is an efficient method for uptake, canola is sensitive to seed row N and this limits application rates. Canola seedlings are injured by excessive seed row N by the “salt effect” that reduces water uptake by the seed, and by ammonia toxicity. Seedling damage will be more severe under dry conditions so growers in dry areas should not apply more than the recommended amount of seed placed N. The risk of seedling damage will be lower in moist soils but damage can still occur with N rates higher than safe recommendations. Click on the following link for recommended safe rates of seed placed N;
http://www.canola-council.org/PDF/CPCfertilizer.pdf#zoom=100

Flea beetles have been reported in central Manitoba, in Saskatchewan south of Weyburn, and in Alberta near St. Albert, Tangent and Falher. Although most of the reports are on volunteer canola, early seeded fields in these areas may be close to emerging, so pay particular attention in these cases.

Although seeding continues to be delayed in many areas, growers should not yet get in a panic regarding seeding of canola. The greatest yield reductions generally do not occur until seeding after around May 25, so growers can still afford to take the time to use proper seeding procedures. For further seeding tips refer to last week’s Canola Watch report: http://www.canola-council.org/seed/canola-watch/watch06-may3.html

Direct questions regarding this report to John Mayko, Agronomic Research & Extension Manager 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

Rob Park, Manitoba Agriculture, Food & Rural Initiatives,
rpark@gov.mb.ca, 204-745-5665

David Vanthuyne, Agronomist, Eastern Saskatchewan,
vanthuyd@canola-council.org, 306-782-7799

David Blais, Agronomist, Western Saskatchewan,
blaisd@canola-council.org, 306-895-2122

Jim Bessel, Senior Agronomist, Northeastern 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, Central Alberta,
moiseyd@canola-council.org, 780-645-3624

Jackie Heck, Agronomist, Peace River Region,
heckj@canola-council.org, 780-853-5261

Matthew Stanford, Agronomist, Southern Alberta,
stanfordm@canola-council.org, 403-758-6660

Murray Hartman, Alberta Agriculture, Food & Rural Development, murray.hartman@gov.ab.ca, 403-782-8024

Kerry Clark, BC Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Fisheries,
Kerry.Clark@gov.bc.ca,  250-787-3213

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.


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