Key practice: Use insecticides judiciously and employ strategies that may increase populations of some beneficial insects and reduce mortality of some parasitoids. These strategies include reducing tillage, leaving tall stubble to improve overwinter survival and intercropping. Key research: Dosdall, Lloyd, University of Alberta. “Improved Integrated Crop Management with Beneficial Insects.” Canola Digest Science Edition (2013)....
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The Canola Council of Canada’s Keep It Coming strategic plan targets an average yield of 52 bu./ac. across the Prairies by 2025. This is an 18 bu./ac. increase over the average yield at the time the plan launched. Of that, 10 bu./ac. will come as a result of agronomic improvement through the four categories outlined in this magazine. The other 8 bu./ac. will come from genetics. This article summarizes the seed industry’s perspective on their target and how it could be achieved.
Key practice: Recommended fertilizer rates and seeding rates that provide for a competitive stand will make canola more resilient against weeds, insect damage and disease. Key research: Brandt, S.A., Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), et al. “Seeding Rate, Fertilizer Level and Disease Management Effects on Hybrid Versus Open Pollinated Canola (Brassica napus L.).” Effective pest...
Read More Key practice: In the seed row is the best time and place for the first 15 to 20 lb./ac. of phosphate — which is the amount most likely to produce an economic return in the year of application. However, this rate is not enough to match crop removal, which may lead to phosphorus shortages over...
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Key practice: Canola varieties with pod shatter tolerance have arrived. Pod shatter tolerance adds more flexibility for harvest timing, allowing crops to stand longer with fewer losses. Key research: Cavalieri, A., University of Manitoba, et al. “Pod Drop and Pod Shatter Are Not Closely Related in Canola.” Crop Science (2014). Gan, Y., Agriculture and Agri-Food...
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