Straight-cutting canola can be a timesaver and a way to cut corners on cost, and some research has shown it can result in a higher yield. But it's risky because if it's not done properly, producers could see pod shattering.
Angela Brackenreed, an agronomy specialist with the Canola Council of Canada, says if producers are thinking about straight-cutting, they need to make sure their field is a good candidate.
"In my opinion, when you're looking at straight-cutting, you should assess a field just before swath timing, and then with that, it would still allow you to swath at the appropriate time if it doesn't seem like it would be a good candidate for straight-cutting," she says. "What you want to be looking for is a relatively thick, heavy stand that's evenly matured across the field, and fairly well-knit so when you walk through it kind of pushes you back."
Source : PortageOnline