Saskatchewan Bulletin
SaskCanola invests in canola direct-cut harvest system development
In 2014, SaskCanola invested in a project to answer some of the basic questions around header selection and use of dividers for straight cutting canola,” explains Bernie McClean, SaskCanola board member and chair of the research committee. “The team at PAMI has completed the project and published a straight cutting guidebook that will provide information for growers considering straight cutting for the first time, as well as the seasoned straight cutter.”
Over three years, researchers compared header types and dividers for straight combining canola in field-scale trials, using the conventional swath-based harvest approach as the benchmarking standard. “The project validated that straight cutting canola is a viable option for Western Canada and offers another tool in the toolbox for growers,” says Nathan Gregg, program manager for Applied Ag Services with PAMI. “It provides growers with some flexibility to use in their management planning process, providing options at harvest depending on crop and weather conditions.”
As part of the project, researchers successfully developed a unique method of collecting and quantifying header and environmental loss, which could be implemented in various future research projects.
Overall, all harvest systems resulted in similar crop quality under the conditions tested. Crop management, in addition to environmental conditions, will largely determine the potential benefit of straight cutting canola for an individual operation. “Although there are strategies for optimizing harvest equipment, the environmental conditions have the biggest impact, and there is no one size fits all answer,” explains Gregg. “It is worth experimenting and learning what works best on your farm for optimizing existing equipment or planning ahead for future machinery purchases. Most importantly, the good news is that straight cutting looks like a viable harvest management system and provides one more flexible option for growers to bring in the harvest.”
The Guidebook summarizes the results of the trials and provides tips
and strategies for straight cutting canola. Visit the Resource Library online at saskcanola.com/resource to view the Guidebook for Straight Cutting Canola.
Save the date
Don’t miss these upcoming events!
Hosted or sponsored by SaskCanola.
Agribition Grain Expo
Regina – November 20 & 21, 2018
The Canadian Western Agribition Grain Expo is a two-day speaker conference and trade show aimed at grain producers and their related industry.
Grain Grading Workshops
North Battleford – November 27, 2018
Humboldt – November 28, 2018
Learn more about degrading factors in wheat, barley and canola.
Canola Industry Meeting
Saskatoon – December 5, 2018
A farmer-oriented day of canola
industry updates.
Canola Innovation Day
Saskatoon – December 6, 2018
A science oriented day with a focus
on genetics.
SaskCanola Annual General Meeting
Saskatoon – January 14, 2019
SaskCanola’s AGM will be held prior to the start of CropSphere at TCU Place. Canola producers may attend the AGM without registering for CropSphere.
CropSphere
Saskatoon – January 15 & 16, 2019
Ideas, Innovation and Knowledge. The CropSphere conference features sessions on market outlook, research and agronomy, along with sessions specific to each crop.
Crop Production Show
Saskatoon – January 14 to 17, 2019
Canola Council of Canada and SaskCanola will be exhibiting together in Hall B at Prairieland Park.
Top Notch Farming 2019
Melfort – February 12, 2019
Humboldt – February 13, 2019
Davidson – February 14, 2019
A day of agronomy, marketing and management information.
CANOLAPALOOZA
Saskatoon – July 9, 2019
The canola agronomy event of the summer.
Visit saskcanola.com for event registration information. Follow @SaskCanola on Facebook and Twitter to receive important news and event updates!
Cast Your Vote Now for SaskCanola’s Board Election
SaskCanola is governed by farmers so make sure your voice is heard and vote!
Five nominations have been received to fill four seats at SaskCanola’s board table.
The five nominees include Charlene Bradley from Stranraer, Katelyn Duncan from Regina, Bernie McClean from Glaslyn, Beverley Shewchuk from Wishart, and Lane Stockbrugger from Englefeld.
Profiles for each candidate are viewable online at saskcanola.com/about/elections.php.
All registered producers* of Saskatchewan-grown canola are eligible to vote in SaskCanola’s board election and should have received a voter package in early November that included a unique voter number. Visit canolavote.com to use your unique voter number to cast your vote before November 30, 2018. There is an option listed in the voter package for registered producers who prefer to vote by way of paper ballot.
The results of the election will be announced mid-December and at SaskCanola’s Annual General Meeting on January 14, 2019, held in conjunction with the CropSphere conference.
*A registered producer is any producer who has sold canola in either of the previous two crop years and has not requested a levy refund in the past year.
