Canola Watch #18

 Four the week

Blackleg close up. A new CCC video takes you down to the microscopic level to see how blackleg infects canola and how resistance works.

Straight goods. When straight combining canola for the first time, start with one or two fields chosen for high uniformity, good stand, no weeds and lower frost risk.

Peer pressure. Do your own insect risk assessments. Bertha armyworm numbers are generally low, but isolated hotspots can pop up. Don’t be caught by regional complacency. Lygus seem to be plentiful in some regions this week, but that doesn’t mean YOU need to spray.

Hail to pods. Before jumping the swathing gun to save pods rattled by late-season hail, consider the condition of those pods lower in the canopy that will contribute more to yield

*CCC agronomy specialist Angela Brackenreed shot the photo above while on a helicopter tour of western Manitoba last week. Effects of extreme water levels through May and June are evident.

Map of the week

Here are the growing degree days (Base 0°C) for the Prairies from April 1 to August 4, 2014. The growing degree day map for May 19 shows how far we’ve come. Saskatoon, for example, was around 200 for the season at that time, which means canola seeded in that region in mid May has had around 1,300 GDD Base 0 since then. The table below will give an indication of where canola should be after 1,300 GDD Base 0. Click here to create this map and other AAFC maps.

Growing Degree Days (GDDs) Base 0°C required to reach various growth stages for Napus and Rapa canola.

August 7 Quiz

Time for pre-harvest disease scouting. How are your disease ID skills? Give them a test with this week's quiz.

Source: Alberta Canola Producers Commission