A three-part research study was conducted in western Canada to assess the environmental footprint of canola production in Canada. The results show that achieving high yields of grain dry matter and oil is essential to minimize environmental and carbon footprints.
Canola is a crop with high potential for seed-shatter and pod-drop, however, at this time no effective and proven tools to accurately and consistently estimate losses are available. Researchers at the University of Manitoba conducted a three-year study to evaluate different methods of estimating pod-drop and seed-shatter.
Sclerotinia stem rot is one of the major diseases affecting canola production. New varieties of Brassica napus canola with improved levels of sclerotinia resistance are required as part of an integrated management strategy.
Researchers with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada conducted a large multi-location study from 2009 to 2011 to determine if growing a pulse crop to supplement nitrogen requirements of canola is economical and could reduce the amount of inorganic nitrogen required to optimize yield.
In a three-year project, researchers conducted surveys for harvest losses of canola on farms across western Canada. Researchers concluded that total on-farm harvest losses in canola are a complex phenomenon with many interacting variables that are difficult to separate.
Diamondback moth is a serious pest of canola and mustard in Canada, and although there are important parasitoids for managing diamondback moth outbreaks in canola, very little is known of their life histories and habitat requirements.
Researchers at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) in Saskatchewan conducted a three-year study to determine the yielding capacity of B. juncea canola in comparison with B. napus canola in various sites.
Researchers with AAFC conducted a comprehensive farm gate investigation on the best management practices that more advanced/experienced producers from across the major canola production zones of western Canada have been using in canola production.
Researchers with AAFC conducted a three-year study to determine the effect of various degrees of seeding uniformity and non-uniformity on canola plant establishment and seed yield in various soil-climatic zones.
Although the majority of canola producers currently swath Brassica napus prior to combining, many producers would prefer to have the option to straight combine and therefore avoid the cost and time associated with swathing.
A three-year study was conducted from 2010 to 2012 across western Canada in conjunction with planned Prairie Weed Surveys to determine the impact of the environment, management and weeds on canola crop establishment.
Nitrogen fertilizer costs have more than doubled in recent years, and therefore any increase in N use efficiency will reduce costs and increase farm profits.
