Early spring seeding typically benefits canola yield and quality. An early planting date enables the crop to take advantage of good spring moisture, avoid some heat stress at flowering, and reduce the risk of fall frost damage. Key practice: Crops seeded early (in late April or early May, depending on the region) will out-yield canola...

Key practice: Economic response to micronutrient applications is rare for canola in Western Canada. However, if growers apply recommended rates of nitrogen, phosphorus and sulphur and yields are not increasing, growers may want to check the micronutrient situation. Key research: Karamanos, R.E., Westco Fertilizers, et al. “Canola response to boron in Canadian prairie soils,” 2003,...

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...

Key practice: Optimum seeding depth is ½” to 1″ below the press wheel furrow. This reduces days to emergence and improves plant population and uniformity, which produce season-long benefits. Key research: Harker, K. Neil, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC). “Seeding Depth and Seeding Speed Effects on No-Till Canola Emergence, Maturity, Yield and Seed Quality.” Canola...

Key practice: Increasing the number of years between canola crops in the rotation reduces incidence and severity of blackleg and clubroot in fields. Key research: Kutcher, H.R., University of Saskatchewan, et al. “Blackleg Disease of Canola Mitigated by Resistant Cultivars and Four-Year Crop Rotations in Western Canada.” Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology (2013). Peng, G.,...