Is it too early for nitrogen?

A field of winter wheat in early March that is beginning to green up.

A warmer than normal winter coupled with dry weather through February has led to surprisingly good field conditions in much of southern Ontario. While it looks like it could be an early spring, we know that the weather can change rapidly this time of year. Some are questioning whether it makes sense to take advantage […]

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Canola & Coffee Speaker Series

Five canola specialists from outside the province were invited to join Ontario producers and agronomists and share their canola expertise in a series of online meetings held from February 9 to March 9, 2022.Those meetings were recorded and the videos are posted below. Each meeting starts with a presentation by the guest speaker (approx. 30 […]

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Managing Nitrogen for Canola

At a recent virtual speaker series on canola topics, John Heard, Soil Specialist with Manitoba Ag, joined Ontario growers to answer questions on fertilizing canola. A canola crop needs 3 to 3.5 lbs of nitrogen (N) per bushel of grain produced. In spring canola production in Ontario, granular fertilizer is typically broadcast ahead of planting. […]

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Growing Winter Canola in Ontario — Spring: Assess Plant Health and Fertilize

Vegetative/Reproductive Overwintering Growth resumes when average temperatures reach 5°C but will be slow until it is consistently warm. Leaves may have rotted off or be discoloured but the centre of the rosette should be green. Determine the population of healthy plants. 5 plants/ft2 or more is ideal. 3-4 plants/ft2 is acceptable. 1-2 plants/ft2 can be […]

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Monitoring for Pollen Beetle in Canola

This article was written by Dwiti Mistry, Canola & Dry Bean Research Assistant The major canola insect Brassicogethes viridescens, or the pollen beetle, is of growing concern in Canada as it has the potential to significantly impact yield from canola crops. The pollen beetle is a known canola pest in Europe and has also been […]

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Growing Winter Canola in Ontario — Fall: Prepare for Winter Survival

Vegetative Emergence The hypocotyl pulls the cotyledons above the soil surface. The growing point is exposed between the two cotyledons. Management: Fertilizer in the seed row can injure seedlings, especially nitrogen and potassium. Apply up to 1/4 of total nutrient requirements pre-plant. Seed 0.5-1 inches deep, or a maximum of 1.5 inches into moisture. Broadcast […]

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Insect Survey in Winter Canola

This article was written by Dwiti Mistry, Canola & Edible Bean Research Assistant Insect surveillance was conducted in winter canola in Ontario for the 2020-2021 season to monitor the type and number of insects that inhabit this crop. There were 13 fields surveyed in Wellington, Huron, Grey, Chatham-Kent and Middlesex counties. Sweeps were taken from […]

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Pre-Harvest Herbicide Use in Canola

Canola will dry down naturally and can be harvested directly without the application of pre-harvest herbicides. If the field is weedy or canola stems are green, there may be value in applying a pre-harvest herbicide. Pre-harvest herbicides may assist with dry down but will not hasten maturity. Follow all herbicide label specifications. Canola must be […]

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