Q: What kind of genetics should I focus on for my farm when booking canola for 2022?
A: This past growing season was a year unlike any other for most crops. Some areas got timely rains and had average to well- above-average yields. However, for the most part, yields are down for Western Canada. It’s an everyday conversation for people discussing extremely poor crop yields with less than half of their historic production.
Mother Nature’s conditions this year make it hard to pick varieties for 2022 when the crop was in survival mode most of this season. Most growers not only dealt with a lack of timely rains but also poor subsoil moisture, high winds, insect outbreaks, heat blasting, fertilizer burn, residual herbicide issues and the list goes on. It’s difficult to showcase what was considered successful or what failed on the farm regarding best practices with soil preparation, seed, variety, fertilizer application, pesticide application, proper staging and so much more.
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With all of these variables and unknowns, how should growers choose the best canola variety for their farms for the next season?
There is no right or wrong way to select a canola variety – it depends on the big picture, which can include location and size of the farm, needs, experience, financials, crop rotation, equipment and overall seed genetics. Pod shatter and harvest management is one of the most common conversations occurring between retail staff and growers after this past year. Mother Nature created a lot of variable crop stages on the same quarter section and the straight-cut varieties had some harvest flexibility and overall reduced risk. In addition, disease is a growing concern with tight crop rotations and a continued focus on clubroot and blackleg genetics. In severe clubroot-infected areas, newer varieties with multigenetic disease resistance are being compared to older registered varieties.
What the average is for frost- free days on your farm and how many acres grown can lead to a decision on the choice of an early-, mid-, or late-maturity canola variety. Some growers may choose a TruFlex variety for weedier fields in the hopes of having some flexibility with controlling weeds. Those with herbicide residual concerns may choose a Clearfield variety for their acres. Many growers are excited about the newer varieties that have glyphosate/LibertyLink tolerance, which provides the ability to choose what herbicide to apply.
Lastly, seed treatment options can help with deciding the best variety for your farm. Additional seed treatments can be applied to the canola seed to reduce cutworm or flea beetle feeding pressure. There is also the option of having additional blackleg protection on certain varieties. Remember, the most sought-after canola varieties are sold early, so it’s important to decide quickly which genetics you want on your acres.
Jade Delaurier, AAg, CCA, is a manager of agronomic solutions for Nutrien Ag Solutions in east-central Saskatchewan and western Manitoba.
