Hail on mature canola: what now?
Canola can recover from hail until flowering, but pod damage or loss near harvest causes permanent yield loss. Shattering risk also rises, and major hail can return large amounts of seed to the soil (ex: a 50 bu/ac crop wiped out by hail means 2,500 lb of seed / acre).
- Focus on where yield remains. If most yield is from undamaged lower pods, swathing after 60 per cent seed colour change (SCC) will capture more yield than swathing early to save hail-damaged pods.
- Scout often for a week after hail. Bruising of lower pods may appear days later. Seeds on either side of a pod bruise will likely dry up, and bruised pods are prone to premature shattering. If lower pods (where the yield is) are bruised, earlier swathing may be needed.
- Be prepared to swath quickly if bruising is widespread, but swathing before 20 per cent SCC is counterproductive.
- Consider the seedbank. First, hope for rain: moisture is good to get seed germinated and out of the seedbank. Optimize seed to soil contact for quick germination without fully burying seed: light harrowing is typically more effective than fall tillage for managing seed. Pre-think next year’s crop selection to mitigate volunteers.
What is the cost of 'set it and forget it' combine settings?
Combine losses can add up quickly if settings don’t match conditions. This new article in Canola Digest highlights that shifting from a warm, dry afternoon to a cool, dewy evening can increase seed loss out the back by two to three bushels or more per acre. Rotor loss rises with tough, green stems as seeds stick and get carried out. Sieve loss can also spike. Adding airflow helps “fluff” heavier material so seed falls through the upper sieve instead of riding out the back. Automated systems help, but they need regular calibration. To minimize losses, check and adjust settings often through the day, measuring losses behind the combine. Here’s more on how to reduce combine losses, plus Canola Council’s combine optimization calculator.
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