Some Heat, Some Rain, Then Heat Again

Rainfall was reported in many areas of western Canada last week which halted combines temporarily but allowed much of the canola to be swathed under relatively ideal (damp) conditions. Rainfall amounts were variable with amounts generally ranging from trace up to two inches. A couple of locations in Manitoba, however, were hit with severe weather systems. Up to eight inches of rain with hail fell in the Snowflake and Kalieda areas in south central Manitoba and as much as 11 inches fell in the Arborg area in Manitoba’s interlake region. Obviously fields are extremely wet and harvest equipment is making ruts and getting stuck. Soggy soil conditions are also reported in other parts of the interlake and eastern regions in Manitoba which is interfering with harvest operations. Across the west, areas that did not receive too much rainfall were able to resume combining again early this week.

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Swathing Nearing Completion

In Manitoba, approximately 80 to 90% of the canola is swathed with the exception areas around The Pas (about 50% swathed), Roblin/Russell areas (50 to 75% swathed), and the northern interlake region which is about 20 to 50% swathed. Overall approximately 15 to 20% of the canola has been combined and combining will likely become general by the end of the week. Preliminary yield reports are average to above average with good quality.

In Saskatchewan, approximately 80 to 90% of the canola is swathed with only the very latest fields (re-seeded or late emergence with July rains) still standing. Combining of canola will continue this week with the south already about 20 to 40% combined and about 10% of the crop in northern areas combined. Yields so far are reported as average to above average with good quality.

In Alberta, swathing generally ranges from 60 to 90% complete with some isolated areas only 25% complete (Clyde area). Swathing is expected to be completed by the end of the week. Only a few of the very earliest fields have been combined in most regions with a little further progress made on dryland canola in southern areas. Very little canola on irrigated land has been combined to date. The Peace region of Alberta is about 90% swathed and swathing is nearing completion in the BC Peace with very little combining occurring yet.

The latest crop report from Manitoba Agriculture, Food & Rural Initiatives is available at: http://web2.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/mwcr/index.php
The latest crop report from Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture is available at:
http://www.agriculture.gov.sk.ca/crprpt090909
The latest crop report from Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development is available at:
http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/sdd4191#2009
The following maps show growing degree days accumulating across western Canada this growing season: http://www.agr.gc.ca/pfra/drought/prtgdd_e.htm

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Be Patient, Wait for Adequate Curing in the Swath

Remember that green seed percentage cannot be lowered once canola seed is in the bin. Therefore, growers must allow enough time to pass while canola is in the swath for chlorophyll to clear the seeds prior to combining. If ideal conditions exist, canola can be combined with good quality after lying in the swath for as little as 10 to 14 days, though this time frame is not allowing for adequate curing in some areas this year. Several factors affect the time it takes for the seed in the swath to cure (e.g. seed colour change at time of swathing, weather conditions post-swathing, variety, etc.). A crop swathed too early (before 60% seed colour change) may require more curing time in the swath especially if hot, dry conditions occur. Moisture (heavy dew or rainfall) post-swathing helps speed up the curing process. If hot, dry conditions prevail it may take as long as three weeks or longer for canola to cure properly.

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Be Sure, Take a Good Sample

Variable maturity within fields has been an issue all season in many regions so as combines begin the harvest it is important to take a good, representative sample (not just the edge of a field)  to know what the entire field is like. Field edges are often more ripe than other parts of the field. When starting to combine, take a sample of an area that represents the majority of the field (including low spots, late maturing spots, etc.). This will help ensure you know the characteristics (moisture, green seed percentage) of the canola you are binning from the entire field.

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Protect Your Investment

Reports of canola harvested so far indicate that seed moisture content is ‘dry’ (below 10%). It is important to remember that canola storage can be a concern even at seed moisture levels considered dry when the canola is binned at high temperatures or when there is a lot of ‘foreign’ material (e.g. green weed seeds). Canola seeds can respire for up to six weeks and can begin to develop moist and hot spots within the bin which can then cause the seed to heat. Although the canola seed might test dry, the presence of green material (e.g. weeds or chaff or insects such as grasshoppers) within the respiring canola can cause heating. Canola should be stored in aeration bins whenever possible and the aeration should be used to bring down the temperature of binned canola. Research in Australia has shown that the higher the oil content of the canola, the more critical it is to get seed moisture contents down to prevent spoilage in the bin. Canola should be conditioned to below 15 °C and 8% moisture for long term storage. More information on storing canola can be found at the following link: http://www.canolacouncil.org/contents12.aspx

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Careful with Canola to be Combined in Coming Weeks

Canola that has recently been swathed or those fields that are yet to be swathed will likely only be combined near the end of September and into October. Depending on the weather, storage could be a challenge. If canola is combined ‘tough’, it is difficult for aeration to bring down the moisture content substantially in storage especially if cool, wet conditions occur later in the fall. Consider heated air drying if moisture content must be reduced significantly, but avoid excessive temperatures as the high oil content increases the risk of fires and seed damage (see link in the previous section). Whenever possible, harvest canola as close to dry as feasible and only expect aeration to cool down the temperature of the grain. If you do not have access to aeration, then be prepared to move canola from bin to bin to interrupt the respiration of the canola. Check bins frequently because you will likely need to start moving canola between bins within a week to ten days.

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Remember to Avoid Malathion in Storage

Canola should not be stored in bins that were previously treated with malathion since canola oil has a strong attraction to the insecticide and will result in detectable residues. Malathion can move into canola seed from storage bin walls. Detection of malathion residue in canola seed above the allowable limit will result in rejected shipments and increased monitoring.  Do NOT use malathion to treat bins destined for canola. If a bin has been treated with malathion, it should not be used to store canola for at least six months after treatment. More information is available at the following link:  http://www.canola-council.org/pesticide_link2.aspx

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Fungus Feeding Insects Reported

There are reports near Maymont, SK about fungus feeding beetles on canola swaths. These beetles feed on fungus that grows on crop residue or damp seeds. Fungus feeding insects and mites cannot survive in dry grain. Chemical control is not necessary for fungus feeding pests in stored grain. Do not apply malathion or other chemical insecticides to your canola. Conditioning grain to ensure that it is dry and cool should be all that is needed to control such pests. Information to help identify and control insect pests of stored grain can be found at the following link: http://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/crops/cropproduction/faa06s00.html

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Still Thinking About Straight Cutting?

Straight cutting of canola is becoming more common in some parts of the Prairies (e.g. parts of the Peace Region in Alberta). For many fields this year this decision will already have been made, but for any late fields where this is still being considered, keep in mind the following four factors:

• Frost risk – Canola seed is at significant risk for fall frost damage until seed moisture drops below 20%. This moisture drop will take much longer in a standing crop, making late maturing crops poor candidates for straight cutting. Canola will be much more vulnerable to yield loss and downgrading from frost damage when standing.
• Crop canopy – The crop should be well knitted and slightly lodged to reduce potential seed loss through pod drop and shelling. Frost, drought and insect damage all affect pod integrity. A uniform crop with minimal green weed growth is also a huge advantage when straight cutting.
• Disease – The crop should be relatively free from blackleg, fusarium wilt, sclerotinia and alternaria, as these diseases can cause premature ripening, which makes the crop prone to pod shatter.
• Hail - Crops affected by hail are poor candidates for straight cutting because they typically see greater disease infection due to tissue damage. The physical damage also reduces pod integrity. If late season hail is common in your area, keep in mind that hail will cause more damage to a standing crop than a swathed crop.

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Considering Chemical Applications to Assist Crop Dry-Down?

Growers who have decided to straight combine some of their canola may be considering pre-harvest weed control or desiccation, particularly in fields with uneven or late maturity. While these products can hasten dry down of mature plants, they will kill any immature ones. It is also important to understand that these products are not designed to seal the pods against pod shattering, and in some cases may make the crop more vulnerable to shattering if harvest is delayed. Be prepared to harvest as soon as the crop is ready, because the more rapid dry down will leave the crop vulnerable to shattering sooner than if it is left to mature on its own. If applying pre-harvest chemicals with ground rig sprayers, crop dividers can reduce the amount of crop loss due to trampling and shattering. In addition, traveling back and forth in the direction of prevailing crop lean will help reduce losses.

On Roundup Ready canola varieties, a pre-harvest glyphosate application will assist in some dry down of green weeds and offer perennial weed control, but it will not dry down the crop. For other types of canola, it is critical not to apply the product too early. Apply when the crop has 30% or less seed moisture content. At this stage, which is past the typical swathing timing, pods are green to yellow, and most seeds have turned from green to yellow or brown. For a faster acting desiccant like Reglone, it is even more important to delay application to allow seeds to reach physiological maturity. The recommended stage is when an average of 60-75% of seed on the whole plant has turned brown. Keep in mind that this will be well past 75% seed colour change on the main stem.

Also use only products that are registered for pre-harvest application. The use of unregistered products may leave unacceptable levels of residue in the seed.

Post-harvest weed control may be an option this year due to the good growing conditions this fall without frost. Post-harvest weed control will help maximize canola returns next year by controlling hard to kill weeds such as dandelions at a time when translocation to the roots (and hence herbicide efficacy) will be maximized. Post-harvest is also a good time to control winter annuals such as stinkweed, cleavers or shepherd’s purse or perennials such as Canada thistle. Managing weeds after harvest will help limit weed seed populations in the following years. A few tips for maximizing post-harvest weed control are:
-  cut stubble high to leave as much plant material as possible,
-  spread straw and chaff adequately to leave plants exposed and
-  spray when new plant growth is evident or when leaves are present.

More information on fall weed control is available at the following link: http://www.agriculture.gov.sk.ca/Default.aspx?DN=161cb34e-a650-4ccc-b897-496580d05ba9

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Watch For Herbicide Residues for 2010

If planning weed control post-harvest, be certain that the herbicide is registered to be used ahead of canola next year. Be familiar with recropping restrictions. Several products leave a residue that can affect canola germination and emergence next spring. The dry soil conditions present in parts of the prairies will be more conducive to herbicide carryover. It’s a good idea to consult with your local retailer or herbicide provider for more information on such cautions.

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Next Up - Soil Testing

Soil testing is a very useful tool in order to assess required fertility levels for next year. The proper sample time in the fall is after the soil surface temperature drops to less than 7°C. At this temperature, soil processes such as mineralization (breakdown of soil organic matter into plant available nutrients) that cause changes in soil nutrients proceed quite slowly and therefore changes in plant available nutrient levels are normally not great. By sampling in the fall, there is sufficient time to properly process samples, provide test results and recommendations, and develop a fertilizer program for this fall or next spring. It allows more time to order fertilizer, to take advantage of typically lower fall fertilizer prices, and to spread the workload out over two seasons.

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That’s A Wrap!

This is the final Canola Watch report for the 2009 season. The Canola Council of Canada would like to sincerely thank everyone for their input and participation throughout the season. The 2009 season certainly has been challenging and we hope the weekly Watch reports have been informative and have helped with some of the tough decisions out in the field. Good luck with the rest of harvest. We will be sending out a survey later this fall to help us improve how we deliver information to you. Look for it in your inbox and please take the time to help us do even better next year! 

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Questions & Contacts

Direct questions regarding this report to John Mayko, Senior Agronomy Specialist with the Canola Council of Canada at maykoj@canolacouncil.org, 780-764-2593.
Direct specific questions regarding regional issues to one of the following Canola Council of Canada regional agronomists or provincial oilseed specialists:
Derwyn Hammond, Senior Agronomy Specialist Manitoba, hammondd@canolacouncil.org, 204-729-9011
Anastasia Kubinec, Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives, anastasia.kubinec@gov.mb.ca, 204-745-5645
Jim Bessel, Senior Agronomy Specialist, Central Saskatchewan, besselj@canolacouncil.org, 306-373-6771
Tiffany Martinka, Agronomy Specialist, Eastern Saskatchewan, martinkat@canolacouncil.org, 306-231-3663
Venkata Vakulabharanam, Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture, Venkata.Vakulabharanam@gov.sk.ca, (306)787-4668
Doug Moisey, Senior Agronomy Specialist, East Central Alberta and Northwestern Saskatchewan, moiseyd@canolacouncil.org, 780-645-9205
Erin Brock, Agronomy Specialist, Peace Region, brocke@canolacouncil.org,
780-568-3326
Murray Hartman, Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development, murray.hartman@gov.ab.ca, 403-782-8024
Kerry Clark, BC Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, Kerry.Clark@gov.bc.ca, 250-784-2559
The Canola Watch Report provides just-in-time information on canola production to growers and industry. Contributors to the Canola Agronomy Network are:
Alberta Canola Producers Commission; Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development, SaskCanola, Saskatchewan Canola Growers Association, Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture, Manitoba Canola Growers Association, Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives, Peace River Agriculture Development Fund, B.C. Ministry of Agriculture & Lands, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, and the Canola Council of Canada.

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