In this issue (click the
bookmark links below to move to specific sections
of this report):
Seeding progress | Soil
moisture conditions | Soil
temperatures | Frost
| Seeding tips
| Maturity considerations
| Weed growth
| Flea beetles |
Grasshoppers | Cutworms
& Wireworms
Canola seeding
continued to advance across many areas of western
Canada this past week, but remains highly variable.
Snowfall and rain last week delayed seeding
across most of Manitoba and parts of southeastern
Saskatchewan. Seeding in Manitoba ranges from
just getting started in the northwest near Swan
River up to over 50% seeded in central and eastern
areas. Seeding in Saskatchewan ranges from 10%
seeded in the Shellbrook area to mostly complete
in the Swift Current area. Most other Saskatchewan
regions report between 25-80% seeded. Southern
Alberta is basically complete with other regions
including the Peace, reporting between 35-90%
seeded. The lack of general precipitation in
areas other than the southern Prairies and most
of Manitoba this past week have allowed rapid
progress of seeding, despite the cool conditions
in most areas.
Soil moisture conditions across western Canada range from poor to excellent. Growers in areas that received snow and rain last week report good to excellent moisture conditions. But moisture conditions continue to deteriorate across many areas of central Saskatchewan, central Alberta, and the south Peace near Grande Prairie. Rainfall will be needed very soon in these areas to allow for adequate crop germination.
For current maps of moisture
conditions from PFRA for western Canada, check
the following link:
http://www.agr.gc.ca/pfra/drought/drprec7_e.htm
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 Agriculture, Food & Rural Revitalization is available at: http://www.agr.gov.sk.ca/docs/reports/crop_report/crprpt040517.asp
Additional moisture information
for Alberta is available from Alberta Environment
at:
http://www3.gov.ab.ca/env/water/WS/data/precipmaps/weekly.pdf
Soil temperatures have remained low across most areas this past week. Low daytime highs and frost on most nights have kept soil temperatures cool. However, warm temperatures across most regions this week should help improve soil temperatures and enhance germination. Canola emergence has been quite general in southern Alberta, although due to recent precipitation, variable stages of emergence have been noted. Emergence is beginning in most other areas.
Frost has been noticed again in many areas this past week, but damage to emerging or emerged canola has been variable. Areas of southern Alberta and western Saskatchewan report numerous incidents of frost damage to early seeded canola. The amount of frost injury will depend on the degree of frost, moisture conditions, rate at which thawing occurs, the growth stage of the plant, and the amount of cold temperature hardening the plant has experienced. This cold temperature hardening is an important point to note. Canola planted 10 to 12 days ago will likely have at least sprouted. If temperatures rise into the twenties this week, shallow seeded fields will emerge rapidly. These actively growing seedlings and established plants will likely be susceptible to a greater amount of frost damage as they emerge due to a lack of hardening.
A
canola seedling or more mature plant will usually
recover from a light spring frost that does
not damage its growing point. A light frost
that wilts or discolours the leaves, but does
not cause any browning will not injure the plant.
Yellowing or whitening will often occur, especially
under drought conditions. Wait several days
following the frost to determine the extent
of the damage and whether or not the growing
point has been killed. Peel back the leaves
(like a banana) to expose the growing point.
If there is any green colour at the growing
point in the centre of the frozen leaf rosette,
the plant will likely recover and yields will
be higher than if the field is worked and reseeded.
Under good growing conditions, green re-growth
from the growing point should occur in four
to five days. Under poor growing conditions
(cold and/or dry) this may take up to 10 days.
Remember, that a proper assessment of
frost damage cannot be made for several days--until
it can be determined whether new growth is appearing
from damaged plants.
Although seeding continues to be delayed in some areas due to cool and wet conditions, growers must continue to be careful during their seeding operations and not get caught up in ‘spring fever.’ Take the time to properly calibrate your seeding equipment to apply the proper rates of seed and fertilizer, and set your seeding depth and speed in order to properly place the seed. Remember to ask yourself the question, "If you don’t have the time to do it right the first time, do you have the time to re-do it?"
Growers in short season areas should be reassessing the maturity suitability of their chosen varieties. The accumulation of temperature or Growing Degree Days (GDDs) has a major influence on days to maturity for canola. In the short and mid season zones of western Canada, maturity for B. napus varieties will range from 95 to 125 days, depending on the growing season heat accumulation. B. rapa varieties usually range from 80 to 115 days to maturity.
First, find out how many
days to maturity are required for the variety
that is to be seeded. Usually the variety will
be rated as so many days earlier or later or
equal to the check. Using a typical first late
summer/fall frost date, count back the days
to maturity to get to the safe seeding date.
For example, if the first frost is August 25
on average and maturity of the check in the
area is 103 days, counting back gives a safe
seeding date of May 17. If the variety to be
seeded is five days earlier in maturity than
the check, this means that in a typical year
up to May 22 would be acceptable for that variety.
If the variety does not meet the requirements,
ask your local retailer to suggest other suitable
varieties. Alberta growers can check
the following link to determine their frost-free
days:
http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/agdex10
Weed growth continued to be slow in many areas due to the cool conditions. Frost damaged weeds have been identified. However, the warmer temperatures of this week will likely enhance weed growth considerably, and growers who eliminated a pre-seeding burn off spraying operation should look at a post seeding burn off, as long as crop emergence has not yet occurred. Otherwise, ensure that post emergence spraying is done early to avoid yield losses due to early weed pressure. Growers are reminded to get on their hands and knees to do a proper assessment of early and small emerging weeds. As well, reports of overwintered cleavers (up to the 6- to 7-whorl stage) in winter cereals have been reported in Manitoba and Alberta.
Flea
beetles have been noticed in many areas
of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, southern Alberta
and the Peace, although feeding to this point
has been mostly limited to volunteer canola
and winter annuals. Although the cool weather
and snow will delay flea beetle emergence and
activity, it’s unlikely these conditions
will have any significant effect on mortality
of flea beetles not yet emerged. Therefore,
be on the lookout for flea beetles, especially
if temperatures improve. Refer to the May 5
report for further information on flea beetles:
http://www.canola-council.org/seed/canola-watch/watch-may5.shtml
Grasshopper
emergence has continued in parts of Alberta
and Saskatchewan. Grasshopper risk will not
likely be affected by the recent snow and cold
due to the fact that the pest species are still
in the egg stage. Eggs are unlikely to be affected
by cold and wet conditions. Grasshoppers emerging
at this time of the year are unlikely to be
pest species. For more background information
on grasshoppers, including identifying pest
and non-pest species, refer to the following
website from Dan Johnson at the University of
Lethbridge:
http://people.uleth.ca/~dan.johnson/htm/forecast04.htm
Cutworms
and wireworms continue to be noticed in
many areas of southern and central Alberta.
Refer to last week’s report for more background
information on cutworms and wireworms:
http://www.canola-council.org/seed/canola-watch/watch-may12.shtml
Scott Meers, with AAFRD in Brooks, is collecting cutworm and wireworm samples to evaluate the species present and their geographical distribution. If cutworms or wireworms are found, collect as many as possible and place in a sealed margarine type plastic container about half full of soil. The monitoring period is May and June (early germination and crop establishment period). Please record the following information: Date, Crop, Location (legal land location or GPS coordinates), the Collector's Name and contact information. Package and ship to:
Scott Meers
Alberta Agriculture, Food & Rural Development
Crop Diversification Centre South
S.S. #4
Brooks, AB T1R 1E6
Phone: 403-362-1366
Email: Scott.Meers@gov.ab.ca
This will help determine the cutworm and/or wireworm species that cause problems in annual crop production systems in Alberta. This will lay the groundwork for future insecticide research targeted at Alberta species. In Alberta, drop samples off at a local provincial government office.
Any questions regarding this overall report
should be directed to John Mayko, Agronomic
Research & Extension Manager with the Canola
Council of Canada at maykoj@canola-council.org
ph/fax: 780-764-2593.
For specific questions regarding regional issues associated with this report, please consult one of the following Canola Council of Canada regional agronomists or provincial oilseed specialists;
Derwyn Hammond, Agronomist,
Manitoba,
hammondd@canola-council.org,
204-729-9011
Rob Park, Manitoba Agriculture
& Food,
rpark@gov.mb.ca,
204-745-5665
David Vanthuyne, Agronomist,
Eastern Saskatchewan,
vanthuyd@canola-council.org,
306-782-7799
David Blais, Agronomist,
Western Saskatchewan,
blaisd@canola-council.org,
306-895-2122
Jim Bessel, Senior Agronomist,
Northeastern Saskatchewan,
besselj@canola-council.org,
306-373-6771
Bill Greuel, Saskatchewan
Agriculture, Food & Rural Revitalization,
wgreuel@agr.gov.sk.ca,
306-787-2756
Doug Moisey, Agronomist,
Central Alberta,
moiseyd@canola-council.org,
780-645-3624
Christine Mardell, Agronomist,
Peace River Region,
mardellc@canola-council.org,
780-518-1513
Nancy Muchka-Dahl, Agronomist,
Southern Alberta,
nmuchka@telusplanet.net,
403-625-3406
Murray Hartman, Alberta Agriculture,
Food & Rural Development,
murray.hartman@gov.ab.ca,
403-782-8024
Kerry Clark, BC Ministry
of Agriculture, Food & Fisheries,
Kerry.Clark@gems9.gov.bc.ca,
250-787-3213
The Canola Watch Report provides just-in-time information on canola production to growers and industry. Contributors to the Canola Agronomy Network are: Manitoba Agriculture & Food; Manitoba Canola Growers Association; Agricore United; Cargill; Saskatchewan Wheat Pool; United Farmers of Alberta; Saskatchewan Agriculture, Food & Rural Revitalization; Saskatchewan Canola Growers Association; Saskatchewan Canola Development Commission; Alberta Agriculture, Food & Rural Development; Alberta Canola Producers Commission; BC Ministry of Agriculture; Food & Fisheries; and the Canola Council of Canada.