Select
variety/hybrid that has shown high yield potential in University and company
trials. These trials should be
at several locations in your respective growing region.
Field
selection is critical to obtain high yields. Canola best follows cereal grains or fallow in rotation.
A preferred crop rotation would have canola planted at least two
cropping years between plantings. Avoid
crops such as sunflower, dry beans and crambe in close rotation with canola.
Also select fields that are somewhat free of troublesome weed
problems.
Plant
seed that is high germination with high seedling vigor. Planting seed
treated with both an insecticide and fungicides for seedling protection is
highly recommended.
Plant
canola early before your wheat and barley crops. Research has shown that yields drop quickly with delayed
planting. Results in North
Dakota and NW Minnesota have shown that about 1% decrease in yield per day
will occur when canola planting is delayed after the first possible planting
dates of mid April or early May.
Plant
canola into a firm seedbed and at a uniform depth.
Seeding depths recommended are 3/4 to 1 inch.
A common seeding rate is 5 pounds of seed per acre.
However, a grower should know the number of seeds per pound and then
plant so one will have a potential of 600,000 plants per acre or 16 plants
per square foot. A good stand
of 10 to 12 plants square foot would also be adequate for high yields. A
minimum stand of 3-4 plants per square foot just will not provide the higher
potential yields that can be obtained with higher plant populations.
Canola
is a crop that responds well to fertilizer applied.
Both nitrogen and sulfur are the key nutrients for high yields.
Always have a soil test done to help in knowing how much to apply for
high yield goals.
Control
weeds early if possible since a lot of competition early can reduce yields
very quickly. Herbicide
tolerant canola's usually show little if any herbicide crop injury but may
need help on certain weed problems. Also
monitor for any late emerging weed flushes that the first application
missed. Don't harrow or
rotary hoe canola for weed control as it is too damaging to the canola
seedlings.
Monitor
for any flea beetle pressure and other pest problems early in the growth (1st
three weeks after emergence) and development stages of canola.
Be prepared to apply an insecticide if the seed treatment does not
hold long enough or the insect pressure is too great.
As
canola gets near the bud stage or early bloom, start monitoring the NDSU
Canola Disease Risk map site for Sclerotinia stem rot (white mold)
potential. Have a plan to get
the correct fungicide applied should the risk be high.
If one decides to use a commercial applicator to apply the fungicide,
its suggested to have one lined up well ahead of time. This will allow the
more timely application according to label.
Swath
the canola at the optimum time to insure maximum yield and quality.
If allowed to get to ripe, shattering can be a real problem and
reduced yield will result. If
cut too early then the green seed problem can result in discounts at the
marketplace. It is recommended
that the crop be swathed when 20 percent of the seeds on the main stem have
turned from green to brown. Producers
will need to sample pods from various places in the field to determine
average maturity. When the crop is ready to swath, seed should be firm and
not break when rolled between the thumb and forefinger.
Canola is easy to cut but makes a bulky, fluffy swath which can be
scattered quite easily by the wind. A
roller pulled directly behind the swather is a standard practice to ensure
the newly cut windrow stays in place.
ProCrop
