What a few warm days can do

Growers eager to swath, consider this: With warm temperatures and a bit of wind, canola can gain 10 percentage points of seed color change in three days or less. In a week, canola at 5-10% seed color change, which is generally considered too early to swath, can reach 30-40% seed color change. The ideal swath timing for higher yields and lower green seed counts is up to 60% seed color change on the main stem and with all seed on side branches firm to roll, but if that isn’t an option then waiting for at least 30% can significantly reduce potential losses in yield and quality.

Growers who want to swath green canola today may gain quite a bit by waiting 2 or 3 days, as long as the forecast suggests a low risk of frost.