Key practice: Ground speed and mechanical adjustments to the combine can reduce harvest losses and increase yields. For growers who want to try straight combining, start with one field with uniform maturity and high yield potential. Key research: Gulden, R.H., University of Manitoba, et al. “Evaluation of Harvest Losses and Their Causes in Canola Across...

Key practice: Target a population of at least seven plants per square foot to maintain yield potential for canola. This target will allow for some plant mortality due to post- seeding stresses without dropping below the minimum five plants per square foot required for canola yield potential. Key research: Leeson, Julia, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada...

Improved nitrogen use efficiency could provide a significant economic gain, given that nitrogen is one of canola growers’ single biggest input costs. “Nutrient use efficiency from fertilizer application is generally less than 50 percent in the year it is applied. Improvements in nutrient use efficiency are therefore critical, both to improve the economics of crop...

Key practice: Control weeds early through a combination of pre-seed weed control and one in-crop application before the four-leaf stage. Key research: Harker, K. Neil, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), et al. “Field-Scale Time of Weed Removal in Canola.” Weed Technology (2008). Harker, K. Neil, AAFC, et al. “Seeding Rate, Herbicide Timing and Competitive Hybrids...

After escaping all the yield loss traps in the field, there is one more obstacle to overcome before delivering canola to the elevator: storage. Grain mismanaged in a bin can result in disappointing losses. Paying attention to the moisture and temperature of the grain as well as outdoors is critical to management. Canola storage was...