Home / Archives for 2013 / Page 3
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If overall crop yields are 15-20% higher than average, as some forecast, then nutrient depletion is likely to be greater than normal. Standard fertilizer rates may need to be increased as a result, but soil testing will be necessary to confirm…
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High yielding canola and cereal crops will have drained the soil of a lot of nutrients. Taking good soil samples will help determine how much is left, and how to adjust fertilizer rates for the 2014 crop. Avoid sampling areas that may exaggerate the soil test readings. These areas include low spots, sandy ridges, old yard sites, hilltops, saline areas…
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For growers who want to use elemental sulphur, fall is the time to apply it…
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Canola binned hot, even if it has low moisture, low dockage and low green, should still be put on aeration. Target a core temperature of 15°C before stopping the aeration fans, and watch throughout the winter to make sure it doesn’t start to increase…
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The onset of lower temperatures and shortened days in the fall trigger perennials such as Canada thistle, dandelion and quack grass to start moving sugars to below-ground tissues. Winter annuals and biennial are also doing this, but they don’t need a temperature trigger. Spraying these weeds in fall takes advantage of this downward flow into the below ground buds on…
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The ideal plant stand is 7 to 14 plants per square foot, and any canola crop with fewer than 5 plants per square foot is not reaching its yield potential. A fall count of stems provides an end-of-season assessment of this year’s stand…
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Clubroot galls have been found on canola plants in two separate fields in Manitoba. There is quite likely more clubroot across the province. Alberta experienced an increase in clubroot intensity and geographic spread this year. Saskatchewan’s disease survey report will not be available for a few weeks. In general, it was a good year for clubroot — if you’re clubroot…
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1. Cleavers. Cleavers used to be pretty much an annual weed, but with more direct seeding it’s becoming more of a winter annual. The rise in winter annual cleavers may be a case of producers not applying high enough rates in the spring to manage them. Grading tolerances are fairly low for cleavers, and the weed seems to be getting…