Researchers conducted a three-year project to study the economics of canola production systems including an input study and a rotation study. The results from the input study of a barley-canola rotation indicated the primary input that influences yield was weed control.
Growers may wish to limit herbicide use to reduce costs, crop injury, environmental concerns and herbicide-resistance selection pressure. However, reducing herbicide inputs can increase crop production risks.
Blackleg caused by Leptosphaeria maculans (LM) is a major disease of canola (Brassica napus) in Canada and world-wide. A solid understanding of the pathogenic variability of L. maculans populations is vital to maintaining effective resistance in future canola varieties.
During the winter of 2011-2012, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and the Canola Council of Canada sponsored a survey of canola growers across the three Prairie provinces to determine management practices and inputs used by the growers.
Developing genetically resistant canola varieties is the best and only effective method for controlling blackleg to date. Researchers at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada have been able to locate the resistance gene LepR4 and develop DNA based markers in close proximity to this gene.
Sclerotinia stem rot (Sclerotinia sclerotiorum) is one of the most important biotic stresses influencing long-term production and economic stability for canola producers.
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.
