Applied Research Program – On-Farm Research
Manitoba Canola Grower Association’s Canola On-Farm Research program hit the fields again in 2024 for its third season. The table describes the five different trial types. MCGA partnered with agronomists across the province to work with farmers to establish trials, collect in-season data and harvest trials. Trials provide farmers with valuable applied data on how new products and best management practices perform on a wide range of farm operations across the province.
Learn more about on-farm research!
| Trial Type | Year | Research Questions | Treatments | Number of Locations, 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrogen (N) rate | 3 | Are N rates being applied across Manitoba sufficient for optimizing yield and return on investment? | Normal rate (100%), 75% and 125% Farmers choice of N source | 5 |
| Seeding rate | 3 | How are seeding rates influencing emergence and yield of canola across Manitoba? | Normal rate (100%), 75%, and 125% | 6 |
| Seed-placed fertilizer (SPF) toxicity | 2 | Are SPF applications being used across Manitoba safe for canola plant establishment and what are the major factors influencing seed safety? | No SPF, 100% SPF rate, 150% SPF rate Farmers choice SPF source | 19 |
| Phosphorus (P) source | 1 | How does P source influence canola yield and P uptake? | Standard P source vs. Competitor P source of farmers choice. P sources tested in 2024 include: Alpine G22, MST, TopPhos, Crystal Green Synchro | 4 |
| Cover crops for flea beetle management (in partnership with University of Manitoba) | 1 | How does the incorporation of cover crops influence flea beetle pressure in canola? | No cover crop vs. cover crop (fall rye or oat) | 4 |
Visit our website at canolagrowers.com for 2022 and 2023 trial results, and stay tuned for 2024 data, which will be available in early December.
Applied Research Program – Canola Variety Evaluation Trials
MCGA strongly supports the independent evaluation of commercial canola varieties marketed to farmers across the province. This season MCGA launched a provincial Canola Variety Evaluation Trial (CVET) program to replace the prairie-wide program, Canola Performance Trials (CPT), that ended in 2022.
During the winter of 2023-24, MCGA worked to gain support from the canola seed industry and develop a protocol that would accurately represent canola varietal performance in fields across Manitoba for the 2024 pilot season. Trials showcased 18 varieties at six locations across the province – Swan River, Hamiota, Melita, Carman, Holland and Rosser. Unfortunately the Swan River location was cancelled due to early-season conditions. Growers can get results from the remaining five locations through MCGA and Seed Manitoba publications as well as winter extension events such as AgDays.
As MCGA continues to build this program, the organization aims to highlight the value of independent variety testing for farmers across the province. It hopes that all seed companies will participate in the future to provide a well-rounded evaluation of the canola seed market.