Fertilizer Canada, in its 2021 survey of farmers, found that 4R Nutrient Management practices are utilized on just over 50 per cent of canola acres. For farmers who do not yet follow 4R, a discussion on economics – return on investment – may help.
With over 20 million acres of canola, a warming climate and practices that increase selection pressure, new pests are inevitable. Canola growers, pest specialists and agronomists are on the watch for swede midge, pollen beetle, verticillium stripe and group-9-resistant wild oats.
The Canola Council of Canada encourages growers to choose the best seed traits for each field. This could be easier if canola took inspiration from corn. Corn seed companies offer a long list of traits for each cultivar, giving farmers the information needed to choose cultivars that suit growing conditions and farm goals for each field.