JUNE 26 QUIZ — CANOLAPALOOZA THEME
TOP 10 CANOLAPALOOZA MESSAGES
The Canola Council of Canada, Alberta Canola Producers Commission and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) presented the first ever canolaPALOOZA at AAFC Lacombe and AAFC Beaverlodge this week. The event featured lots of hands on agronomy, leading experts and fun — including a dunk tank, slap shot contest, and food trucks. Our top 10 list includes just a sample of the agronomy messages growers and agronomists heard during the day. Search #canolapalooza on Twitter for more comments and images.
HERBICIDE FOR VARIABLE STAGED CROPS
Patchy emergence due to a few weeks of dry and then a rain, or due to reseeded crop emerging among the few original plants, has created a wide range of stages in some crops. Make herbicide timing decisions based on the stage that represents the highest proportion of plants. And rather than planning on two applications, growers may be better off spraying once at the highest registered rate when weeds that are more advanced than the crop, and with rapidly growing canola plants.
INSECTICIDES FOR VARIABLE STAGED CROPS
Cabbage seedpod weevils are one example of an insect where crop stage is a factor in the management decision. Weevils lay their eggs in developing pods, and these larvae feed on canola seeds inside the pods. The rule of thumb is pods less than 3/4” are too small for egg laying. If some plants are forming pods and the rest are still bolting, waiting will improve overall spray timing and return on investment.
ASSESS THE REAL CAUSE OF BUD LOSS IN PRE-BOLTING CANOLA
Insects tend to damage only a few buds per cluster. If all are damage, something other than insects is the likely cause.[/caption]
Bud damage and insects are being found together in some canola fields, but that does not mean insects are the primary reason for the damage. Take a moment to assess the damage before making unnecessary or poorly timed insecticide applications. Key points to consider….
MANAGING CANOLA AFTER A JUNE HAILSTORM
The later hail occurs, the higher the chance of yield loss, given that the plants have less time to recover. Plants with a broken main stem will likely die. Plants at the 6-leaf stage that lose most of the leaf area on the main stem can still live, but these leaves will not regrow. The plant will be delayed, and more of the yield potential — which will be lower than before the hail — will come from side branches.
COMING EVENTS
International Rapeseed Congress – July 5-9, Saskatoon, SK
Crop diagnostic school — July 7-9 and 14-17, Carman, MB
Making the grade — July 28, Olds, AB
Crop diagnostic school — July 28-30, Outlook, SK
Canola Discovery Forum — October 27-28, Canmore, AB
Read more for registration links
BEE BMPS
Here are best management practices to be friendly with bees and beekeepers….
LATE HERBICIDE: MAKE A BALANCED DECISION
Late weed control significantly increases the yield loss from weed competition, and it can also damage canola plants. However, the yield and economic risks from a later in-crop spray could make sense…
—If growers use canola as a clean up crop for Group-1 resistant wild oats, narrow-leaved hawk’s beard, round-leaved mallow and other tough weeds, a second herbicide application may be required to do the job.
—If weeds are plentiful, at the same stage or ahead of the crop and the canopy hasn’t closed, these weeds may have a large yield impact. Note however that you’re still required to follow label rate directions even if these large weeds might require a higher rate for control. A pre-harvest product is another option to consider.
—If weeds are at levels too low to influence yield, but are potential grade impacting weeds — such as cleavers (shown above) — a second spray may pay off if it can do a job on these weeds.
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