Common scenarios growers face with the snow on canola are: 1. Canola is immature when snow falls.
2. Canola is ready to swath when snow falls. 3. Canola left standing for straight combining is hit with snow. 4. Canola in the swath was already dry and has been hit with snow. Here is a description of each scenario, along with…
Swath timing
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This time of year, seed in standing canola can sit for a long time at firm-to-roll stages (which are basically mature) without turning colour, especially if moisture is adequate and temperatures are cool, slowing the dry down process…
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You have two choices in this situation: Swath now or wait. Swathing now might prevent further seed loss if severe frost damage will soon cause pods to pop open and pedicels to snap. You could have shriveled seeds and high green counts, but that might be better than the potential losses from waiting. But if frost did not kill the…
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The combination of swathing canola too early (low seed-colour change) and swathing during a stretch of hot weather can lead to rapid curing that leaves green counts elevated. By leaving the crop standing until 60% seed colour change on the main stem, this should reduce the amount of green immature seeds on side branches, which will reduce the green-seed risk…
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