Story Posted: December 01, 2010

Canola Watch: Blackleg tips, Seed selling fast, Bins heating

In This Issue: Tips to keep blackleg resistance strong, Top varieties selling out fast, Check bins, avoid costly surprises, Soil test wet fields in winter, Take the Canola Watch survey, Take the Canola Watch CCA exam, Coming events, Questions and contacts.

Tips to keep blackleg resistance strong
The more we use blackleg-resistant canola in a rotation, the more we encourage the buildup of blackleg populations that can successfully overcome that resistance trait. The risk is especially high in regions where conditions for disease - early season rain and humidity - are present most years.

Ideally, in areas where blackleg is present, rotations should include at least two or more non-host crops between canola crops. For growers who choose to include canola in the rotation more often, here are a few disease management tips that may help delay resistance breakdown:

1. Grow varieties with an "R" or "MR" rating for blackleg.

2. Rotate varieties. Blackleg resistance depends on a number of genes. Growers don't know which varieties have which resistance genes, but rotating varieties will likely bring a mix of resistance genes to the field over time.

3. Scout for disease. Look for blackleg early in the season and just prior to crop maturity. If you see damage on small plants, you may be able to prevent the spread with fungicide. Scouting later in the season gives growers an idea of disease presence and severity in their fields, which is useful for future disease management.

4. Control volunteers. Canola volunteers and related weed species such as wild mustard can host blackleg and other canola diseases, making non canola years less effective at reducing disease.

5. Use certified seed. With certified seed, each canola plant should have the same genes and be equally resistant.

6. Consider a fungicide, but recognize they tend to provide a greater benefit on susceptible varieties.

Click here for more detail on these points and others, including results from Saskatchewan studies showing how rotation influences blackleg and how tillage and burning are not usually effective for blackleg management. See the graphs below for blackleg survey results for the past eight years. Incidence is based on an average of all fields, including those with no blackleg. Some individual fields had higher levels.

Top varieties selling out fast
Growers who plan to rotate between canola systems for improved weed control or to try a different variety as part of a blackleg management plan may want to book seed soon. That way they can be sure to get a variety that fits the plan. Although growing conditions in 2011 will strongly influence which weeds will dominate, growers usually know if they have problem weeds - such as cleavers - in certain fields. They may want to choose a system that provides good control of those weeds in order to maximize their yield and minimize the risk of weeds developing herbicide resistance.

Check bins, avoid costly surprises
Think canola is safe when it's cold outside? Not always. Many bins of canola have been lost already this year because canola went in hot or damp and was not conditioned adequately. As outside temperatures drop below zero and stay there, another moisture cycle begins within the bin. (See the graphic below.) A pocket of humid and warmer air collects at the top of the central core where spoilage and heating can start. Moving one third of the canola out of a full bin disrupts the moisture cycle and helps cool the mass. Click here for more bin checking tips.

Soil test wet fields in winter
Fields that were excessively wet in 2010 may not have the soil nutrient reserves growers expect. A soil test is recommended. If fields were too wet for soil test equipment in the fall, sampling may work better when the topsoil has frozen enough to drive on. Breaking through the top few inches of frozen ground is a challenge, but many Saskatchewan soil service operators are busy taking samples this week. Auger-style probes in particular can take samples in wet, dry, crusted and frozen soils - although the deeper the ground is frozen, the more difficult the job. Click here for more on why fall (and winter) soil tests are important.

Take the Canola Watch survey
Thank you to everyone who already completed the Canola Watch survey. Your input will help us make Canola Watch even better in 2011. If you haven't completed the 10-minute survey, you still have a chance. Click here for the survey.

Take the Canola Watch CCA exam
Certified Crop Advisors (CCAs) who pass the online Canola Watch exam will earn six CCA credits, including 1.5 credits in crop management, 2.5 credits in pest management, 1 credit in nutrient management and 1 credit in soil and water management. The exam must be taken by December 31, 2010 to qualify for CCA credits. To take the exam, click here and enter the password: december147. You need a grade of at least 70% to pass. All answers can be found in the 2010 Canola Watch reports, which are archived online. For more information, click to email Crystal Klippenstein.

Coming Events
The Canola Industry Meeting is December 8 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Saskatoon. Click here for more information and to register.

Manitoba Agronomists' Conference is December 14-15 at the University of Manitoba. Click here for more information and to register. The conference will also be webcast live through www.cerebralfocus.com/mac.

Combine Performance Clinic is January 11 and 13 at Prairieland Park in Saskatoon. Choose one day. The clinic runs 8:00 am to noon. Les Hill from PAMI and reps from five combine companies will provide tips on how to reduce combine losses. The $50 fee includes lunch and a free pass to Crop Production Week. For more information and the registration form, visit cropproductiononline.com, call 306-931-7149 or click to email lcates@saskatoonex.com.

SaskCanola's Crop Week Producer Conference and AGM is Wednesday, January 12 at the Saskatoon Inn. Please pre-register by noon on January 7. Click here for the registration page.

Manitoba Ag Days is January 18-20 at the Keystone Centre in Brandon. Click here for more information. Manitoba Canola Growers Association will hold its AgDays meeting the morning of January 18.

Alberta's Agronomy Update 2011 is January 18-19 in Lethbridge. Troy Prosofsky, Clint Jurke and Denise Maurice, all from the Canola Council of Canada, will make presentations. Click here for more information and to register.

FarmTech 2011 is January 26-28 at the Maryfield Inn & Suites in Edmonton. Canola Council of Canada president JoAnne Buth and CCC agronomy specialist Doug Moisey are on the agenda, and Alberta Canola Producers Commission will hold its AGM January 26. Register by January 7 to get the early bird rate. Call 1-866-327-6832 or click here for more information.

Questions and contacts
If you have general questions about Canola Watch, direct them to Jay Whetter, whetterj@canolacouncil.org or 807-468-4006.

If you have questions on regional issues, contact one of the following Canola Council of Canada regional agronomists or provincial oilseed specialists:

• Derwyn Hammond, senior agronomy specialist, Manitoba, hammondd@canolacouncil.org, 204-729-9011
• Jim Bessel, senior agronomy specialist, Central Saskatchewan, besselj@canolacouncil.org, 306-373-6771
• Tiffany Martinka, agronomy specialist, Eastern Saskatchewan, martinkat@canolacouncil.org, 306-231-3663
• Clint Jurke, agronomy specialist, Western Saskatchewan, jurkec@canolacouncil.org, 306-821-2935
• Troy Prosofsky, agronomy specialist, Southern Alberta, prosofskyt@canolacouncil.org, 403-332-1412
• Doug Moisey, senior agronomy specialist, North East and East Central Alberta, moiseyd@canolacouncil.org, 780-645-9205
• Erin Brock, agronomy specialist, Peace Region, brocke@canolacouncil.org,
  780-568-3326
• Murray Hartman, Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development, murray.hartman@gov.ab.ca, 403-782-8024
• Kerry Clark, B.C. Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, Kerry.Clark@gov.bc.ca, 250-784-2559
• Venkata Vakulabharanam, Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture, Venkata.Vakulabharanam@gov.sk.ca, (306)787-4668
• Anastasia Kubinec, Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives, anastasia.kubinec@gov.mb.ca, 204-750-2717

This report is supported by each of the provincial canola grower associations. For more information on some of their activities, check out the following links:

• The Alberta Canola Producers Commission (ACPC) has a free e-newsletter called Alberta Canola Connections. Visit canola.ab.ca and click the sign-up icon on the right site of the homepage.
• In Manitoba, sign up for the Manitoba Canola Growers Association newsletter at Canola Growers E-update by visiting www.mcgacanola.org.

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