Keep Canola In Your Rotation For 2015!

In 2014, many growers in shorter season growing areas took advantage of attractive contracting and pricing opportunities for spring cereals and canola. More acres of cereals were seeded, while canola acres were trimmed. Growers who did plant cereals or canola were well rewarded with above average yields. This year's cooler summer temperatures and higher rainfall amounts produced lush stands with excellent grain fill. Quality was generally good, although fusarium in wheat was an issue in some areas. Farmers were also pleased with canola returns due to better than expected yields, with 1 - 1.75 tonne/acre commonly reported. The biggest disappointment has been the long drawn-out harvest of all crops and much lower winter wheat acres being planted this fall. Continued increased acres of spring cereals in 2015 are expected.

Where does canola fit in to the crop mix? The risk of swede midge and inadequate control has resulted in a significant drop in canola acres the past two seasons. This was particularly acute in northern Ontario, where swede midge populations have been very high, and to lesser extent in southern areas. Don't give up on planting some canola. Consider which fields might be best suited to early seeding of canola to escape the risk of serious swede midge damage.

Plant Canola Early!

Early planted canola has a low risk of damage from swede midge because canola is most vulnerable to damage during the vegetative (rosette) stage. Populations of swede midge typically don't begin to emerge until after mid-late May. April planted canola escapes serious damage because plants are in late-rosette to bolting stage when the first peak of overwintering midge emerge. Early planted canola consistently suffers less damage than later planted canola. Depending on your area, it may be best to plant canola first.

Field Location & Rotation

Rotation is the single most effective strategy for controlling Swede midge. Swede midge overwinters in previous canola fields. Don't plant canola near previous year canola fields. Swede midge are not strong fliers, so populations migrate into nearby fields or are carried on wind currents. How far away does a field need to be? European data suggests a minimum 600 - 1,000 feet. Without a host crop, the adult female won't be able to find a place to lay her eggs. Adults only live for a short period of 1-5 days.

In the north, swede midge populations have been high in most canola growing areas so isolation is going to be a challenge. At the Northern Canola Production Centre Field Day this past July, Dr. Rebecca Hallett, University of Guelph, suggested that the best way to significantly reduce swede midge populations was to not grow any canola in this area for the next 3-4 seasons. Swede midge can survive in papal stage for least 2 years in the soil. The rationale is that a 3-4 year rotation without canola in an area would significantly reduce (but not eliminate) populations, allowing at least 1-2 years of canola to be grown without serious risk. Grower practices in the north have been to plant canola after spring cereals, and corn. A best management approach would be to select fields where canola could be planted early, away from neighboring fields where canola was grown last season. This could pose a planting challenge for growers who grow both spring cereals and canola, since there is a significant yield advantage for early seeding of oats and spring wheat.

Monitor for Midge

Even where canola is planted early, fields will still require monitoring for populations of swede midge and applying a foliar insecticide for protection if populations warrant. More information on management recommendations will be available this winter, once data from research and field control trials are summarized.

Of course you can't have big canola yields without following all the basics of seeding, fertility, flea beetles and sclerotinia management. Canola helps to 'risk proof' your crop rotation, spreads workload, provides summer cash flow, utilizes nutrients in manure, and good management options for weeds that otherwise escape. And canola allows for EARLY planted winter wheat! (in most years) and makes money.

Source: OMAFRA