WHAT TO DO WITH HIGH-MOISTURE CANOLA?
Weather is finally allowing for some harvest to resume across the Prairies, but the concern now is how to handle canola that could come off very tough, or damp. These steps will help improve conditioning results and reduce risk….
HOW DO SNOW AND WINTER AFFECT CANOLA QUALITY?
Canola harvested in the spring can have lower weights, lower oil content, higher free fatty acids in the oil and more animal excrement in the harvested sample, which could pose significant challenges from a feed safety perspective. Because the degree of yield or quality degradation is difficult to predict and likely depends on conditions, oilseed processors will assess the physical and intrinsic quality attributes and make a decision as to whether to accept spring-threshed canola at that time.
FACTORS THAT ELEVATE STORAGE RISK
How do moisture, green seeds, weed seeds, hot canola and chaff increase the storage risk?
BAG STORAGE SHORT TERM, ESPECIALLY FOR TOUGH CANOLA
Canola at moisture levels above 12% should only be stored for three to four weeks to avoid deterioration of quality.
CHECK YOUR BINS
While the priority is on combining for many canola growers this November, please take time to check the storage situation for canola already harvested.
FERTILIZER APPLICATIONS IN NOVEMBER
The combination of warm weather and moist soils is almost ideal for losses. Growers may want to reassess the nutrient situation with a time-of-seeding soil test, then top-dress if amounts are less than expected.
SOIL SAMPLING IN NOVEMBER
Given the warm temperatures and moist soil conditions, the ideal time for fall soil samples may still be ahead of us. For results to be as close as possible to the situation next spring, the ideal time to take fall samples is when soil temperatures drop below 10°C and as close to freeze-up as possible.
SPRAYING WEEDS IN NOVEMBER
Warm weather has some weeds showing and growing again. If weeds are green, leaf tissue is still relatively pliable and temperatures are relatively warm, growers may still have an opportunity to control perennial and winter annual weeds.
APPLY TO BE A CCC AGRONOMY SPECIALIST SUMMER ASSISTANT
The Canola Council of Canada (CCC) will hire three summer assistants — one each for Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta — for the period April 26-September 1, 2017. To accommodate this Canola Watch notice, the application deadline has been extended to November 18 from the original deadline of November 4, but note that the position could be filled before November 18. If interested, please don’t delay.
YOUR CHANCE TO RANK CANOLA RESEARCH PRIORITIES
Discussions at Canola Discovery Forum October 25-27 in Winnipeg generated an extensive list of research priorities. For those who could not attend, this is your chance to choose which priorities are most important.
Go to and use the code “954068”.
CCC CONVENTION: EARLY-BIRD REGISTRATION
Check out the for more information on the agenda, speakers, and evening events. by end of day on Thursday, November 10 for a chance to win a $500 VISA gift card.
CANOLA DIGEST: NOVEMBER HIGHLIGHTS
The November 2016 Canola Digest has been mailed. Highlights include lots of canola trade stats in ““, a feature called “” and a new pull-out infographic called “” on how to talk science.
TIPS FOR DRYING TOUGH AND DAMP CANOLA
Canola is considered “tough” at moisture levels between 10% and 12.5%. “Damp” is anything above that. With tough canola, aeration can be enough to dry it to safe storage levels as long as air has capacity to dry: warm with low relatively humidity (RH). At RH values above 70%, the equilibrium moisture content will be above 8% to 9%, meaning sufficient drying for safe long term storage is difficult to achieve. Drying canola with aeration alone also requires sufficient air flow and time to move the drying front to the top of the grain mass. Damp canola will require heated air drying and rigorous management to condition it for safe storage.
COMING EVENTS
Western Forum on Pest Management, October 19-21, Saskatoon, Sask.
Canola Discovery Forum, October 25-27, Winnipeg, Man.
Saskatchewan Oilseed Producer Meetings, November 14-18 at five locations
Canola Industry Meeting & Canola Innovation Day, November 30-December 1, Saskatoon, Sask.
CCC Convention, March 7-9, Winnipeg, Man.
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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