In this issue: (click the bookmark links below to move to specific sections of this report)
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
Canola seeding continues to progress and become widespread across western Canada. Seeding ranges from virtually complete in parts of the Interlake region of Manitoba, southwestern Saskatchewan, southeastern Alberta and many parts of the Peace region to just getting started in areas of northern Saskatchewan and northwestern Manitoba.
Soil moisture conditions continue to range from poor to excessive across western Canada. Precipitation this past week ranged from a trace up to over 50 mm. Areas of east-central and northern Saskatchewan and northwestern and southeastern Manitoba remain wet. Small pockets of dryness remain in parts of southwestern Saskatchewan and parts of central Alberta near Red Deer are experiencing dry topsoil moisture. Most of the Peace Region received some rain this past week which will assist in germination but most of the subsoil remains dry.
For current maps of moisture conditions from PFRA for western Canada, check the following links for precipitation since September 1 and May 3:
http://www.agr.gc.ca/pfra/drought/prpay06_e.htm
http://www.agr.gc.ca/pfra/drought/prpgs06_e.htm
The latest crop report from Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives is available at: http://web2.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/mwcr/
The latest crop report from Saskatchewan Agriculture, Food & Rural Revitalization is available at:
http://www.agr.gov.sk.ca/docs/reports/crop_report/crprpt060514.pdf
Additional moisture information for Alberta is available from Alberta Environment at:
http://www3.gov.ab.ca/env/water/WS/data/precipmaps/weekly.pdf
Considerable weed growth continues due to favorable soil moisture conditions and warm soils in most of the prairies. In many areas, the weed stages and sizes are requiring higher rates of glyphosate to control targeted weeds. Be sure to stage weeds properly and choose the right rate of glyphosate for burn-off applications and required tank-mixes to take care of special weed concerns such as Roundup Ready volunteers. Be especially aware of the limitations for some product tank mixes before seeding canola.
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
Weed growth continues to be advanced compared to the crop in most areas, especially where a pre-emergent burn-off was not applied. Volunteer cereals, wild oats and other grassy weeds are especially noted in fields throughout the Prairie provinces. Growers may have to consider a two-pass herbicide program in these fields, one with a herbicide to control the grassy weeds, and a subsequent pass with their respective herbicide-resistant system to control broadleaf and later emerging grassy weeds. Growers are reminded to do a proper assessment of emerging weeds and ensure that spraying is done early to avoid yield losses due to early weed pressure.
Review the following weed control and spraying tips :
Some frost was reported last week from parts of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and southern Alberta. Although many crops had not yet emerged, some early seeded crops in southern Saskatchewan and southern Alberta may have been affected. 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 severely damage 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 should recover. 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 as effectively, the reseeding threshold would increase because the competition will limit the ability of the crop to compensate. The surviving plants will need to take advantage of reduced competition for light, moisture and nutrients to produce more yield per plant, compensating for the lost canola plants. The surviving plants will take 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.
Make sure seeded canola varieties are Canola Export Ready - With a few last minute seeding decisions still to be made, it is imperative that growers do not seed any deregistered varieties that may impact export markets. Refer to the Canola Council of Canada website link for more information on the Canola Export Ready program and on which varieties and pesticides are not approved for use in Canada:
http://www.canola-council.org/export_ready.html
Remember to begin scouting fields by 7 to 10 days after seeding to detect germination problems early. With ample moisture and warm soils emergence can begin to take place within a week. Refer to the following Canol@Fact for more information: http://www.canola-council.org/PDF/seed_to_21days.pdf#zoom=100
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.
Flea beetles continue to be reported in central Manitoba, in Saskatchewan south of Weyburn, and in Alberta near St. Albert and in the Peace region. Although most of the reports are on volunteer canola and wild mustard, early seeded fields in these areas are beginning to emerging, so pay particular attention in these cases, especially on fields with tight canola rotations or where no insecticide seed treatment was used.
Wireworms and cutworms have been observed in northwestern Manitoba, western Saskatchewan near Cutknife and central Alberta near St. Albert. Although numbers are low at this point, growers should be on the lookout for these pests.
Due to the warm and dry weather in the Peace region, growers are concerned regarding the potential risk from grasshoppers. For the latest grasshopper forecast map for 2006, refer to the following link:
http://www.canola-council.org/PDF/map_grasshoppers_2005.pdf
Although seeding continues to be delayed in many areas, growers should not yet get in a panic regarding seeding of canola. The greatest yield reductions generally do not occur until seeding after around May 25, so growers can still afford to take the time to use proper seeding procedures. For further seeding tips refer to the May 3 Canola Watch report: http://www.canola-council.org/seed/canola-watch/watch06-may3.html
Direct 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 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
Penny Pearse/Scott Hartley, Saskatchewan Agriculture, Food & Rural Revitalization, ppearse@agr.gov.sk.ca / shartley@agr.gov.sk.ca , 306-787-4671 / 306-787-4669
Doug Moisey, Agronomist, Central Alberta, moiseyd@canola-council.org , 780-645-3624
Jackie Heck, Agronomist, Peace River Region, heckj@canola-council.org , 780-835-5261
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 and Lands, Kerry.Clark@gov.bc.ca , 250-784-2559
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; 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.