In this issue:
(click the bookmarked links below to move to specific sections of this report)
Remaining over-wintered canola quality poor
The Alberta Canola Producers Commission (ACPC) has developed an Alberta focused version of this report. Visit the ACPC website at: http://www.canola.ab.ca
The quality of over-wintered canola still to be threshed is generally poor, with many reports of rodent/deer damage. Growers are strongly encouraged to send samples of their spring threshed crop in for analysis to determine the quality for either commercial or feed purposes. There are reports of some opportunities for this poor quality material in the feed market. Check out Canola Advantage 2005 media release#1 Spring threshed canola may still find a market: http://www.canola-council.org/about-us/media-news/media-releases/media-apr1405.shtml
Cold weather over the past week has limited seeding progress. Many areas do report some fields of canola having been seeded but most seeding progress has been in peas and cereals. Widespread canola seeding is not expected until later this week once temperatures improve.
Soil moisture conditions across western Canada continue to range from fair to excellent. Some small pockets of dryness remain in parts of southern and west–central Saskatchewan and the northern Peace region, but in general, soil moisture conditions are reported to be the best in many years.
For current maps of moisture conditions from PFRA for western Canada, check the following link: http://www.agr.gc.ca/pfra/drought/prpay05_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 and soil moisture map from Saskatchewan Agriculture, Food & Rural Revitalization is available at: http://www.agr.gov.sk.ca/docs/reports/crop_report/crprpt050401.pdf
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 dropped severely due to the cold temperatures however the forecast for most areas is for a return to warmer conditions later this week.
Early seeded canola that had emerged in parts of southern Alberta and south-western Saskatchewan may have been damaged by the severe frosts which occurred this past week. The amount of frost injury will depend on moisture conditions, rate at which thawing occurs, the growth stage of the plant, and the amount of cold temperature hardening the plant has experienced.
Canola seedlings will usually recover from a light spring frost that does not damage the plant’s growing point. A light frost that wilts the leaves, but does not cause any browning, will not injure the plants. Some discoloration of the leaves may occur, usually a yellowing or whitening especially under drought conditions.
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.
Wait several days following the frost to determine the extent of the damage and whether or not the growing point has been killed. If there is any green colour at the growing point in the centre of the frozen leaf rosette, the plant will 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. Refer to Canol@Fact “Tips for assessing spring frost damage in canola” for more information. http://www.canola-council.org/growing_publications.html
To evaluate a frost damaged field, walk a diagonal path across the field and evaluate all plants in a 1/4 m2 (3 ft2) every 20 paces and note each sample. This should result in 50 to 100 samples. Calculate the percentage of the field that has adequate plant recovery. For example, 80% of the field has a minimum of 20 to 40 recovering healthy plants per m2 (2 to 4 per ft2) and a light weed population, and the remainder of the field has fewer plants. This field probably still has a higher yield potential than one that is reseeded, because it is likely that only the 20% with less than 2 to 4 plants per square foot will benefit significantly from reseeding.
With a higher weed population that cannot be controlled, the reseeding threshold would increase because the competition limits the ability of the crop to compensate. The surviving plants will take advantage of the reduced competition for light, moisture and nutrients, and grow larger, producing more branches, pods and seeds per pod, compensating for the lost plants. The surviving plants will require longer to mature, but a re-seeded crop will require an even longer frost-free period and have a greater risk of fall frost damage.
Weed growth and emergence of winter annual weeds and volunteer canola have been slowed due to the cold weather, but populations remain high in most areas. Remember to allow the weeds to recover from the frosts for a few days before applying a pre-seed burn-off. Growers are strongly encouraged to assess the number and types of weeds present as well as their growth stage.
Ensure the right rate of glyphosate is used for burn-off applications as well as required tank-mixes to take care of special weed concerns such as Roundup Ready volunteers. Check the following links for tables of available burn-off products by crop and weeds controlled:
http://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/crops/
For more information on current product recommendations, check the following links from the provincial governments for their respective Crop Protection Guides:
http://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/crops/cropproduction/gaa01d01.html
http://www.agr.gov.sk.ca/DOCS/crops/cropguide00.asp
http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/agdex32?opendocument
Cutworms have also been noticed in southern Alberta near Brooks. Growers who are experiencing emergence of early seeded fields should be especially vigilant about monitoring for their presence.
Although soil moisture conditions are favorable in most areas, growers need to ensure they seed shallow to facilitate rapid emergence, ideally at a depth of 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch. Keep any pre-seeding tillage shallow to help maintain the seedbed firmness and moisture. Make sure that seeding rates are high enough to establish the target of 7-14 plants/ft2.
Refer to Canol@Fact http://www.canola-council.org/pdf/plant_pop_profit.pdf for further information on establishing proper plant populations.
Target fertilizer rates to expected yields and available moisture. Refer to this Canola Advantage press release for more information: http://www.canola-council.org/about-us/media-news/media-releases/media-may0205.shtml
As well, apply recommended rates of phosphorus fertilizer for the faster pop-up effect in cooler areas and to assist in hastening crop maturity in the fall.
Begin scouting fields as soon as 10 days after seeding to detect germination problems early. Even if surface emergence is not apparent, scrape back the soil and find the seeds. The condition of the seeds can help determine the cause of poor germination. Hard seeds are probably an indication that conditions have been too dry and that more moisture is needed to facilitate germination. If the seeds are soft, seed decay may be taking place.
If the seed coat is cracked, notice 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. The healthy emerging hypocotyl will be firm and white in colour. If moisture in the seeding zone runs out during emergence, the hypocotyl will dry out and discolour, often turning brown and wilted. 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. This occurrence is often misdiagnosed as a seedling disease complex such as damping off. Cool dry soil conditions are often the main culprit for poor emergence due to lack of seedling turgidity.
With assistance from Murray Hartman of Alberta Agriculture, the Canola Council has developed a Canola Diagnostic Chart for Pre-emergent Seedling Mortality. Our trial version is a map sized chart, designed to assist in diagnosing seed emergence issues. We have some photos but we need more. For a list of the photos we need, please go to http://www.canola-council.org/seed/canola-watch/watch-additionalphotosrequired.shtml
Then keep your eyes open and cameras ready and send us the result! We’ll give you credit and you’ll know you’ve helped create a much needed resource for canola producers. Thanks.
Send questions regarding this report to John Mayko, Agronomic Research & Extension Manager with the Canola Council of Canada at maykoj@canola-council.org ph/fax: 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, Agronomist, Manitoba,
hammondd@canola-council.org, 204-729-9011
Rob Park, Manitoba Agriculture, Food & Rural Initiatives,
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
Matthew Stanford, Agronomist, Southern Alberta,
stanfordm@canola-council.org, 403-758-6660
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.