Dry down before straight cutting canola

Agronomy tips... from the field

Published: August 30, 2017

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Dry down before straight cutting canola

Straight-cutting your shatter-resistant canola variety this season? Timing is of the essence, and you need your field to be ready for harvest.

That’s why you may want to consider using a true desiccant for more precise control over your harvest timing.

However, if controlling perennial weeds is a big concern — or you have a highly variable field — you may want to consider glyphosate or glyphosate plus a harvest aid.

On the other hand, if you got a good plant stand that provided uniform maturity — along with low weed populations, minimal disease or insect damage — then a true desiccant will provide fast dry down to ensure you get that crop harvested as quickly as possible.

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Mounted along the sprayer boom, SWAT Cam captures images every 50 to 60 feet, creating a detailed picture of crop performance across the field. Photo: Croptimistic

Croptimistic’s SWAT Cam maps one million acres in Western Canada

Croptimistic’s SWAT Cam has mapped more than one million acres, using sprayer-mounted cameras to generate crop and weed maps that support in-season analysis and future management decisions.

Once you’ve chosen between a true desiccant and glyphosate, make sure you’re keeping up good spray practices. Coverage and maximum crop canopy penetration are key.

Here are a few tips to keep in mind:

  • Maintain a slow, steady speed.
  • Don’t spray in direct sunlight and heat.
  • Optimize your spray nozzle pattern and height for good coverage.
  • Remember that high water volumes provide the best coverage.

If you have any questions or concerns about drying down your straight-cut canola crop, get in touch with your local service rep before you spray.

Chadrick Carley is an agronomic services manager with Syngenta Canada.

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