SEPTEMBER 16 QUIZ – FALL WEED CONTROL
Fall is an excellent time to control perennials and winter annuals, but a few key management steps can greatly improve the results. This quiz hits on a few highlights.
USE RAIN DELAYS TO CHECK DISEASE LEVELS
Crop rotation and seed decisions are improved when growers and agronomists have a good handle on the disease situation. Blackleg levels were higher than expected in some areas this year, and clubroot continues to spread. Knowledge of the incidence and severity of these two diseases provides an important head start in keeping them under control.
FALL MANAGEMENT TO REDUCE CANOLA VOLUNTEERS
The first step in canola volunteer management is to do nothing. Leaving seeds undisturbed so they germinate in the fall or get eaten by birds and insects is a good way to reduce the volunteer seedbank. Canola seeds that remain on the soil surface when the snow flies will deteriorate over the winter.
FALL WEEDS: WHEN TO SPRAY
Fall is a good time to control perennial and winter annual weeds. The message this week includes two reminders:
1. Wait for post-harvest regrowth.
2. Know the best timing for the weeds present
WATCH FOR JIMSONWEED AND OTHER STRANGE WEEDS
Weed management includes a keen eye for the unusual. “Unusual” can be suspicious patches of common weeds (herbicide resistance?) and presence of new unknown weeds. Jimsonweed is, for many, an usual and unknown weed. (Shown above.) It was reported in several Alberta canola fields a couple weeks ago, and has now been confirmed in fields in 11 Alberta municipalities.
SPROUTING SEEDS AND CUT PLANT REGROWTH
After a drought-stressed summer in many areas of the Prairies, canola plants may have a lingering hormone response that can cause seed sprouting (above) in the pods and regrowth of cut plants.
CONDITIONING TIPS FOR STORED CANOLA
Ideally, growers will want to put canola on aeration as soon as it comes of the field. Cooling hot grain within the first 24 hours is important for safe long-term storage. Removing moisture that sweats from all canola — but especially tough canola (10-12% moisture) — is also important. achieves both of these steps. Here are a few handy tips…
TOP 10 SEPTEMBER ARTICLES
Here are the 10 “most clicked” September articles from the past three years
- High green. Will it clear?
- Frost in the forecast. Swath now or leave it standing?
- Fall weed control on fields planned for canola next year
- Fall weed control product options
- How much canola does your combine throw over?
- Top 10 tips to reduce combine losses
- Top 10 tips to reduce straight combining risk
- Swath timing tips for various scenarios
- How much seed will you need for next year?
- Hot canola increases storage risk
RESIDUE MANAGEMENT STARTS IN THE FALL
Good residue management in the fall will help enhance drill performance, allowing for increased seed survival and an overall better field uniformity in the spring. Changing the angle of vanes on the back of the chopper will help with the width and uniformity of residue spread.
COMING EVENTS
Events featuring canola related topics…
FALL SOIL TESTS: NOW OR BEFORE FREEZE UP?
If you want to use soil test results to see whether this year’s crop had enough nutrients, sampling now would be the better option. To plan for next year, soil samples taken closer to freeze up are a more accurate estimate of levels next spring.
Canola Watch is a free, unbiased, timely and research focused weekly newsletter from the Canola Council of Canada Crop Production Team
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