farm equipment seeding canola

How do you set a good seeding rate?

Have a targeted plant population in mind for this season? Remember that several post-seeding stresses, including cool temperatures (frost), weeds, moisture and insects, might keep your plant stand from fully establishing. And while some of these issues, like weather, may be beyond your control, insect and disease pressure can be managed with the right seed […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canola Council of Canada)

Canola’s rally pushes cash prices higher

CNS Canada — Canola cash prices notched gains with recent news out of the U.S., but the market remains rangebound, and near-term support is likely to run dry. Canola cash prices were supported by a two-day rally in the futures, said Mike Jubinville of ProFarmer Canada, but crushers have widened out the basis for nearby […] Read more





(Country Guide file photo)

Falling farm gate prices highlight ‘long overdue’ topic

CNS Canada — Statistics Canada’s latest Farm Product Price Index marks a year of annual declines, predominantly led by the cattle sector. The whims of the market are one source of losses, but two producer group heads say the data call attention to the country’s processing sector. Year-over-year declines in Canada’s Farm Product Price Index […] Read more

Canola left out in your field? Make it count

Canola left out in your field? Make it count

You probably don’t even want to think about that canola that’s still out in the field this winter. But someone else is thinking about it. The Canadian Grain Commission is studying the impact of snow on canola quality. They’re looking for samples of canola from the 2016 growing year that has overwintered. CGC researchers are […] Read more



A plug of sclerotinia mycelium is attached to a canola stem with Parafilm.

Measuring sclerotinia resistance

How exactly do researchers and plant breeders separate the susceptible from the partially resistant? They use the stem test. The stem test simulates natural sclerotinia infection of canola, Lone Buchwaldt of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada explains. Typically spores colonize petals that adhere to the plant stem. The leaf axle is a hot spot for infections, […] Read more


The most-resistant new lines have stem lesions less than 20 mm. The variety shown here is a resistant variety.

More sclerotinia resistance coming soon

Researchers are identifying lines with more-robust sclerotinia resistance

There’s good news on the horizon for growers and agronomists wrestling with sclerotinia in canola. Researchers with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) have identified several canola lines with more-robust resistance to sclerotinia. They’ve also learned more about the sclerotinia pathogen and the sclerotinia resistance genes found in some canola lines. Researchers screened nearly 500 Brassica […] Read more

Canola seed, oil and meal. (Photo courtesy Canola Council of Canada)

Canola crush margins continue downward slide

CNS Canada — Canola crush margins have continued their downward slide, falling to their lowest levels in 10 months over the past week. As of Friday, the Canola Board Crush Margins calculated by ICE Futures Canada were at about $86 above the March contract, which compares with levels a month ago of roughly $126. Crush […] Read more