Winter canola has proven to be a profitable field crop that provides diversity to crop rotations in Ontario. If you are considering winter canola, this planning checklist will increase the probability of growing a successful crop. Location Growing location is critical for crop success. Winter survival will be poor in regions with harsh, long winters. […]
Co-written by Dr. Lori Phillips, AAFC Harrow Multicropping practices like double cropping and relay intercropping hold the promise of increased productivity and profitability through the harvest of two crops per year on the same acres of land. Double cropping in southern Ontario is not a new practice; farmers in Essex, Kent and Lambton have for […]
Warm weather and early planting are some of the factors that contributed to big winter canola plants heading into winter in December 2024. There was a lot of foliage and raised growing points. View the December 2024 video here. Did the canola survive the winter? Check this field with me in March 2025. […]
We have likely all heard the term “registered variety” but what does that mean? What kind of registration criteria exist for different field crops and how does that system work in Ontario? What is a registered variety? Registered varieties are unique cultivars, each with their own registration number and a name they must be marketed […]
Dr. Mary Ruth McDonald, pathologist at University of Guelph, and Keith Gabert, agronomist in Alberta with Canola Council of Canada, share their knowledge and experience working with clubroot disease of canola. Hosts Will Runnalls, chair of the Ontario Canola Growers Association, and Meghan Moran, canola specialist with OMAFA, ask these experts all the questions producers […]
Four Ontario producers share their knowledge and experience direct harvesting canola. Terry Phillips grows spring canola in Temiskaming District. Michael Doelman farms in Renfrew County, and typically grows spring canola but has one crop of winter canola under his belt. Jerry Drudge has switched from spring to winter canola on his farm in Huron County. […]
Warm weather and early planting are some of the factors contributing to big winter canola plants heading into winter in November 2024. What can we expect this winter and next spring in fields that have huge plants? (See the March 2025 follow-up HERE) […]
In 2024 there were approximately 50,500 acres of canola insured by Agricorp. This includes winter canola seeded in the fall of 2023 and spring canola seeded in 2024, both of which had a modest increase in acreage compared to last year. Spring Canola Acres of spring canola in Temiskaming District, where the greatest acreage of […]
By Tracey Baute and Meghan Moran Spring canola producers will have the option of Buteo (flupyradifurone) or Lumiderm (cyantraniliprole) insecticide seed treatment on some varieties this year, in addition to the Helix Vibrance seed treatment. Producers have reported they prefer Buteo for managing flea beetles, but that is the only insect on the Buteo label. […]
Clubroot is no longer hiding. Canola producers in Northeastern Ontario have reported symptoms over the past 5 to 8 years and there were certainly fields with yield loss in the past few years that generated concern. But in 2024 above-ground symptoms were more obvious in Temiskaming District. Patches in fields matured early or died prior […]
Winter canola harvest will be happening soon in the southern counties of Ontario. Some producers and the researchers at AAFC Harrow have already applied a pre-harvest herbicide last week. Here are some resources on staging the crop for harvest. Resources from Canola Council of Canada and Kansas State U have been used to develop this […]
It is safe to call 2024 a good pest year. Mild winters and warm springs tend to help pests overwinter well or expand their range further than usually and get ahead of crops when soil conditions delay planting. Armyworm and cereal leaf beetle are continuing to show up in some wheat fields, while some grubs […]
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 […]
Many Ontario canola producers tank mix boron with a preventative white mould fungicide and apply it at 20-50% bloom. We took a closer look at whether foliar boron reduces flower abortion or improves yield. […]
Flowering has begun in many winter canola fields. Two key pests in winter canola at this growth stage are cabbage seedpod weevil (CSW) and white mould (a.k.a. Sclerotinia stem rot). These are also both pests of spring canola, and the management recommendations are the same for both types of canola. Cabbage Seedpod Weevil When to […]