Canola Watch Report No. 4
In This Issue
Rain – Some Needed Some Not
Seeding Nearing Completion
Canola – Winter Wheat – Canola Rotation?
Sun/Warmth Continues to be Evasive
Give the Sun a Chance
What’s Taking so Long?
Getting Down and Dirty
Seeding Tips to Hasten Maturity
Frost on Canola – Don’t Assume the Worst
Grow an Export Ready Variety
Keep Good Records
Spraying Tips
Flea Beetles are Warming Up Too
Collect Your Wireworms
Cutworms Have Been Spotted
Recruiting Disease Survey Participants
Questions & Contacts
This report is supported by each of the provincial canola grower associations. For more information on some of their activities check out the following links:
The Alberta Canola Producers Commission (ACPC) has developed an e-newsletter called Alberta Canola Connections. Sign up today http://www.canola.ab.ca/newsletter.html to receive the latest information on agronomy, marketing, coming events and more, or check out their website at http://www.canola.ab.ca/.
In Manitoba sign up for the Manitoba Canola Growers Association newsletter at
Canola Growers E-update or check out the website at www.mcgacanola.org.
For information on activities in Saskatchewan, visit SaskCanola at https://www.saskcanola.com/.
Rain – Some Needed Some Not
Rainfall was received in many areas across the Prairies last week. Amounts ranged from a few tenths to as much as 3 inches in southeastern Manitoba. Excess moisture is now limiting field operations in many parts of Manitoba. Many areas in Saskatchewan and Alberta that were in need of moisture received some (a few tenths of an inch to a ½ inch). However, the reprieve will be short-lived and many of these areas will need additional moisture soon. The rainfall missed the dry pocket in Saskatchewan around Leader, Rosetown, Kerrobert, and Kindersley where soil moisture conditions are poor. The Coronation and Consort areas in Alberta also did not receive rain and soil moisture is poor.
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Seeding Nearing Completion
Across the majority of Saskatchewan last week, canola seeding continued and is now nearing completion. Some of the earliest seeded fields are beginning to emerge. Around Leader, Rosetown, and Kindersley areas, producers have stopped seeding canola because of poor soil moisture.
In Alberta, canola seeding is also nearing completion and earliest seeded fields are emerging. Due to lack of moisture, producers in the Coronation and Consort areas have stopped seeding canola and have decided to chem fallow or switched to crops for greenfeed.
In Manitoba, canola seeding ranges from complete in some areas to not even started in others. Excess moisture in parts of the Northwest, Central, Eastern and Interlake regions is severely impeding seeding operations. The additional rainfall on Monday has resulted in standing water in many fields.
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://agriculture.gov.sk.ca/crprpt090520
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
Maps of current moisture conditions in western Canada from PFRA are available at:
http://www.agr.gc.ca/pfra/drought/prpay09_e.htm
http://www.agr.gc.ca/pfra/drought/prpgs09_e.htm
Additional information on soil moisture conditions for Saskatchewan is available from Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture at:
http://www.agriculture.gov.sk.ca/Default.aspx?DN=d82d857a-c641-41f5-bc04-57eedcfb0fc4
Additional moisture information for Alberta is available from Alberta Environment at:
http://www.environment.alberta.ca/forecasting/data/precipmaps/weekly.pdf
http://www.environment.alberta.ca/forecasting/data/precipmaps/monthly.pdf
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Canola – Winter Wheat – Canola Rotation?
In Manitoba, a significant amount of winter wheat acres planted last fall have been winterkilled. Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives (MAFRI) estimates that 80% of the winter wheat in the Red River Valley and approximately 15% of acres in the rest of Manitoba will be reseeded. Some producers are considering seeding canola into the killed winter wheat which will mean back-to-back canola crops since the winter wheat was seeded into last year’s canola stubble. This is not recommended. However, if canola has to be seeded consider the following points:
· If fields were already fertilized for winter wheat this spring, select a variety that may be shorter season to help hasten maturity.
· Increased incidence of black-leg is a definite possibility. Select a different canola variety than the one that was grown in 2008. Select a variety with an ‘R’ rating for black-leg disease.
· Volunteer canola control should be considered. Select a different canola variety and herbicide tolerant system than was grown in 2008.
· Increased incidence of sclerotinia is a possibility. Be prepared to spray at early flower if conditions are favorable for disease development.
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Sun/Warmth Continues to be Evasive
Cool daytime and cold nighttime temperatures prevailed across the Prairies last week. Many areas reported frost with temperatures dipping to minus 7 oC. Near Trochu, Alberta temperatures as low as minus 8 oC to minus 10 oC were recorded. Very little canola had emerged last week (except for a few very early seeded fields) and so minimal reseeding was necessary. Many fields that had emerged showed signs of recovery/new growth early this week (about three to four days after Friday night’s frost).
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Give the Sun a Chance
With some areas having canola seeded for almost four weeks, the integrity and viability of the seed has started to be questioned. Much warmer temperatures (mid 20°C’s) are forecast for the coming days. Give the soil time to warm up (three to five days) before making any evaluations or decisions. Soil temperatures will lag behind air temperature so it is important to wait several days and allow the soil a chance to warm. Germination and emergence can happen quickly with warm soil temperatures.
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What’s Taking so Long?
Soil temperatures remain cool causing seeded crops to germinate and emerge very slowly. The following maps show growing degree days (GDD) that have accumulated thus far:
http://www.agr.gc.ca/pfra/drought/prtgdd_e.htm
In Manitoba, accumulated GDD are compared against a historical average at:
http://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/climate/wad00s00/cropwxrep.pdf
The number of days to 50% germination is a useful benchmark as the first half of plants to emerge usually accounts for the majority of crop yield. Research has shown much lower and slower canola germination at low temperatures. Soil temperatures above 5°C have little effect on the time to 50% germination, however the number of days to 50% germination increases dramatically at temperatures below 4°C (with germination taking as long as 9 days at 3°C or over 12 days at 2°C).The following link has more information on how temperature effects canola growth: http://www.canola-council.org/chapter5.aspx
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Get Down and Dirty
Apparently there is growing concern that crops are taking too long to emerge and will have to be reseeded. Those decisions cannot be made without getting down on hands and knees to determine what the seed is doing. This spring, in some areas, it is taking seven days before the seed coat even begins to crack so emergence is going to take even longer. When scouting, scrape back the soil and find the seeds or seedlings as their condition is an important indicator of germination/emergence. Hard seeds are probably an indication that conditions have been too dry and/or cold to facilitate germination. Unless most of the seeds are soft and seed decay is taking place, additional moisture and/or warmer temperatures may be all that is needed. If the seed coat is cracked, note the structure of the developing seedling. Seedling turgidity is a function of the emerging hypocotyl remaining rigid and having enough moisture to push through the soil surface. A healthy emerging hypocotyl should be firm and white. If moisture in the seeding zone runs out during emergence, the hypocotyl will dry out and discolour, often turning brown and wilt. This phenomenon is common in areas where soil surface moisture has dried out due to wind or lack of rainfall. The result is patchy emergence that is often misdiagnosed as a seedling disease complex such as damping off. Cool, dry soil conditions are often the main culprit in poor emergence due to lack of seedling turgidity. If the warm temperatures forecast for the coming days arrive, canola emergence should happen quickly where moisture is adequate. Give the sun a chance to warm the soil for three to five days before making any decisions.
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Seeding Tips to Hasten Maturity
Late seeders and reseeders – give your canola the best possible start. Try to employ techniques that will encourage rapid and even emergence.
· Target a consistent seeding depth of ½” to 1”. It may be necessary to slow down to achieve this consistency.
· Because of changing soil conditions and the potential for mechanical issues with drills, check the seeding depth periodically, particularly when moving field to field.
· Maintain a reasonable seeding rate or potentially bump seeding rates up by 10%. Remember a more dense plant population will mean less branching and hasten maturity.
· Canola seed size can be quite variable. Take note of the seed size (TSW should be marked on seed tags or seed bags) and adjust seeding rates accordingly. A seeding rate calculator can help with the planning: http://www.agric.gov.ab.ca/app19/calc/crop/otherseedcalculator.jsp
· Place fertilizer (in safe amounts) near the seed to optimize efficiency. Seed-placed phosphorous can give a pop-up effect especially under cool conditions.
· Re-assess the maturity of the chosen variety. It may be getting too late to plant longer season varieties based on the frost-free period remaining. If necessary, ask a local retailer to suggest other suitable varieties for the area.
For more seeding tips go to the SEED Smart information http://www.seedsmart.org/ from the Canola Council of Canada.
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Frost on Canola – Don’t Assume the Worst
Freezing temperatures were again widespread last week and over the weekend in many parts of the prairies. This may prompt canola growers to consider reseeding. However, resist the urge to reseed immediately, as recovery may turn out to be better than expected, especially if seedlings have not yet emerged or have become acclimated to the cold. If the seed has not germinated and is still hard/firm, not soft/mushy, it will likely survive and just needs warmer conditions. After several days of near freezing temperatures, emerging canola that is near the surface or that emerged under cool conditions will undergo a gradual hardening process, allowing the plants to withstand freezing temperatures without serious damage. These cooler conditions result in plants that are slower growing, producing smaller cells that have a higher concentration of soluble substances that make them more resistant to frost damage. Studies have shown that early-seeded canola seedlings that had undergone hardening could withstand minus 8 to minus 12°C temperatures. Wait at least three to five days or longer depending on growing conditions before making any decisions on canola crops. Remember there is no “minimum number of plants” because growing conditions can have a significant impact on the plant’s ability to compensate. As a guide, a reasonable threshold for conventional varieties is 3 to 4 plants/ft2 early in the season. However, with herbicide-tolerant systems, 1 to 2 plants//ft2 can be adequate with late-season seeding or reseeding. Thin stands such as these can yield up to 90% of the normal stand seeded at an early date but will be later in maturity. Crops reseeded late in the season typically yield less than earlier seeded that had poor stands. It will likely be better to leave a thinner stand (provided it is uniform) than take the risk of late reseeding because maturity/early fall frost becomes a concern.
For more information on assessing frost damage in canola see the following link: https://canola-council.merchantsecure.com/canola_resources/product37.aspx
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Grow an Export Ready Variety
Ensure your variety is Canola Export Ready. It is very important that no de-registered varieties be planted because they can jeopardize export markets. For more information on which varieties and pesticides are NOT approved for use in Canada visit the Canola Council of Canada’s Export Ready site: http://www.canola-council.org/export_ready.aspx
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Keep Good Records
Now is the time of year to have a pen and paper handy. Keep good records. Write things down while details are still fresh. Note seeding date, rate, fertilizer applied, herbicides applied, etc. Always keep a seed sample and the blue seed tag from each variety and seed lot sown. Store stamples in a paper or cloth bag in a cool, dry place. Keeping records and seed samples can help if/when diagnosing an issue later in the season.
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Spraying Tips
Canola is beginning to emerge and with warmer temperatures later this week, emergence will become general. Many producers were unable to do a pre-seed burnoff so it is critical to maximize efficiency with the first in-crop pass. Review the following weed control and spraying tips:
· Scout early and regularly to determine weed spectrum, weed and crop staging and to help with product selection and rate of application.
· Control weed flushes early to maintain crop yield potential. In drier areas, this may mean waiting for weed growth to become general.
· Many canola fields will be emerging shortly so be careful if planning a post-seed, pre-emergent application. Do not apply if signs of emergence exist (ground cracking).
· Calibrate your sprayer for the specific product to be applied. For more information on how to properly calibrate your sprayer, check the following OMAFRA link: http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/engineer/facts/88-129.htm
· Choose the proper nozzle to apply the product effectively and reduce the chances of damage to neighboring crops from spray drift.
· Use adequate personal protection during spraying to reduce exposure.
· Water quality is key to achieving proper performance of many herbicides, particularly with glyphosate and many grassy weed products. The following links provide more information on spray water quality:
http://www.monsanto.ca/_pdfs/eblast/gk_19nov08.pdf
http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/agdex7573
· Custom applicators (and growers in general) should double check to ensure the right product is being applied to the right field. Ensure legal land descriptions and field directions are 100% accurate to eliminate misapplication errors.
· Follow label directions for proper product rates and application techniques. Although good weed control has occasionally been reported in the past using reduced product and/or water volume rates, remember that the performance will be affected by factors such as growth stage and environmental conditions, and unless the product is applied according to label directions, the applicator will have little recourse in the event of poor weed control or crop damage.
· Place a 4 ft X 6 ft tarp on the ground prior to spraying or simply shut off booms for a few yards to create a weed check. This will allow for performance comparisons. This is especially important since GPS technology has all but eliminated un-intentional checkstrips!
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Flea Beetles are Warming Up Too
More and more flea beetle feeding on volunteer and newly emerged canola seedlings was observed last week across the Prairies. Entomologists warn that flea beetle pressure will intensify in the coming days, especially if the warm temperatures predicted arrive. Seed treatment protection starts when the seeds are first put into the soil (not when the plant emerges). As a result, protection may be tapering off in some of the earliest seeded fields. As canola emerges in the coming days, be prepared for significant flea beetle activity. Scout thoroughly and often as canola is most vulnerable to flea beetle feeding at the cotyledon to 2-leaf stage. If flea beetles are present, check affected fields daily as problems can escalate quickly, especially if canola plants are growing slowly or are under stress. Be prepared in case additional control measures are required. The economic threshold for flea beetle control is when 25% or more of the cotyledons are damaged. If 25% defoliation is reached, foliar insecticide application may be needed if plants are growing slowly or are under stress, and if beetle feeding activity is increasing. Evidence of feeding does not automatically mean spraying is warranted. Unwarranted spraying can cause harm to beneficial insects and can also contribute to the development of insecticide resistance. With current seed treatments, flea beetles must feed on leaf material and ingest the insecticide for control so some feeding damage is normal. Flea beetles make their way into canola crops from the edges of fields. By catching a problem with flea beetles early, producers can often spray the perimeter of their fields and stop the infestation before it becomes widespread. Growers are advised to be particularly careful in areas that saw high flea beetle populations around swathing time last fall as this can be used as an indicator for spring pressure. These areas include: Lethbridge, Vauxhall, and St. Albert, Alberta; parts of southern Saskatchewan; and south central Manitoba.
The following link provides more information on flea beetles:
http://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/crops/insects/fad09s00.html
The following links provide information on foliar insecticide flea beetle control in canola:
http://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/crops/insects/fad52s00.html
http://www.agriculture.gov.sk.ca/Default.aspx?DN=3eb86279-cec4-4718-b3a6-9b7e71736bf2
http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/faq8031
Always read and follow product labels prior to application.
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Collect Your Wireworms
Wireworm has been seen in fields that have been taken out of perennial forage in southern Alberta. Fields that were just recently taken out of perennial forage production should be evaluated for canola production suitability. Since there are no control measures for wireworm in canola, this must be done on a field-by-field basis. AAFC is conducting a wireworm survey and encourages samples be submitted. If wireworms are found while scouting, collect one or more and place them in a small container (eg. film roll container or pill bottle) along with some loose soil. The identification of which species of wireworm are occurring in which areas will help with developing control measures in the future. Samples can be sent to:
AAFC Agassiz
Attention - Todd Kabaluk
6947 Highway 7
PO Box 1000
Agassiz, British Columbia V0M 1A0
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Cutworms Have Been Spotted
Cutworms have been found in southeastern Saskatchewan near Marquis. Populations were relatively high and are being monitored closely. For more information on cutworms, refer to the following link:
http://www.canola-councildemo.org/PDF/May4_2FS_Controlling_Cutworms.pdf
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Recruiting Disease Survey Participants
Faye Dokken, Provincial Specialist – Plant Diseases with Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture is looking for cooperators to participate in a canola disease survey this summer. Representatives from the Ministry would like permission to enter canola fields and collect a soil sample (for clubroot). While at the field, representatives will also take note of other canola diseases that may be present. Interested producers can contact Faye at (306) 787-4671 or Faye.Dokken@gov.sk.ca.
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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 Gutzke, Agronomy Specialist, Eastern Saskatchewan, gutzket@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
Matthew Stanford, Agronomy Specialist, Southern Alberta and Southwestern Saskatchewan, stanfordm@canolacouncil.org, 403-345-4852
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, Saskatchewan Canola Development Commission, 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.