One way to gauge the severity of blackleg infection is to cut through the base of the stem and see how much blackening there is inside.

Blackleg is still a threat for canola

Resistant hybrids may not be enough to keep your fields safe from this canola disease

One of the most common diseases in canola is blackleg. As a fungal disease, it needs moisture to spread but infections still occur in the dry years we’ve been seeing lately in the Prairies. Justine Cornelsen, who was an agronomy specialist with the Canola Council of Canada before joining BrettYoung as agronomic and regulatory services […] Read more

With the seeding rate calculator at canolacalculator.ca, enter seed size, target plant stand, estimated emergence percentage and seed cost per pound and the calculator provides a seeding rate and estimated seed cost per acre.

Canola plant establishment quiz

Find out how much you know with this CCC quiz

The Canola Council of Canada (CCC) recommends a canola stand of five to eight canola plants per square foot. This is based on hybrid canola studies from Western Canada, which show canola crops need a minimum of three to four plants per square foot to maintain yield potential. Crops with plant populations lower than this […] Read more


The pod shatter ratings system developed by the Canadian canola industry rates cultivars relative to two designated checks, 45H33 and L255PC, which anchor the numerical/descriptive claim based on seed provider data. The “seeds” in the graph depict a greater amount of potential shatter at low ratings to a lower amount of potential shatter at high ratings. They do not represent the exact amounts of seeds that could shatter out, but rather the relative trend in shatter risk.

New tool helps canola producers understand variety-specific pod shatter risks

Rating system provides information needed to make harvest timing decisions

The Canadian canola industry has a new tool for growers who wish to assess the risk of pod shatter in their canola cultivars. Intended to help producers make better harvest timing decisions and analyze crop loss, this system rates pod shatter resistance in canola cultivars on a scale of one to nine. It was designed […] Read more

How much do you know about canola seed traits?

How much do you know about canola seed traits?

Take the Canola Council of Canada quiz to find out

Through my @CanolaWatch Twitter handle, I put up a poll in January with the question, “Canola growers, how many different hybrids will you grow this year?” The options were one, two, three or four-plus. “Two” was the most common answer, with 35.7 per cent. “One” was second, with 27.9 per cent. When I shared the […] Read more


How much do you know about 4R nutrient management?

How much do you know about 4R nutrient management?

Take the Canola Council of Canada quiz to find out

All farms will benefit from applying the right fertilizer source at the right rate, right time and right place. These are the 4Rs of 4R nutrient management, as outlined by Fertilizer Canada. Following the principles of 4R can improve the return on investment for fertilizer, improve overall farm sustainability, and reduce nutrient runoff into waterways […] Read more

Count your canola for best results

Count your canola for best results

Online tool helps producers assess plant stands and minimize seed loss

Say it’s been about a month and a half since your canola has been in the ground. Do you know if you’re on track toward an even plant stand and optimum yield, or do you still have some work to do? A new online tool can help producers find out by entering a few numbers […] Read more


What were the canola yield robbers in 2020?

What were the canola yield robbers in 2020?

Some farmers benefited from the environmental conditions while others were ready to put 2020 behind them

In 2020, canola fell more than 11 bushels short of the 52 bushels per acre yield target the Canola Council of Canada (CCC) hopes Canadian farmers can achieve by 2025. Though a handful of major factors held yield back last season, hot and dry conditions bit into the most acres, said CCC agronomy specialist Justine […] Read more

How to reach 52 bushels per acre of canola

How to reach 52 bushels per acre of canola

Tips to take you beyond common management practices to maximize canola yields

Canadian canola yields have increased substantially over the last few decades. In the early 2000s, the five-year average was 25.3 bushels per acre. By 2010, that had risen to 33 bu/ac. Today, it’s about 41 bu/ac. While the upward trend is very positive, yield has been fairly flat for the last five years due — […] Read more


Tips to optimize your 2021 canola crops

Tips to optimize your 2021 canola crops

Set yourself and your crop up for success

No two growing seasons are alike, but Prairie canola growers can still draw from the mix of familiar and unique challenges they faced last year to better prepare for the season ahead. “For canola, it’s about setting the crop up from the beginning, so it’s things like good trash management and weed control, and ensuring […] Read more

Vigilance needed with blackleg on the rise

Vigilance needed with blackleg on the rise

Adopt best management practices and rotate resistance gene groups

Blackleg in canola hasn’t got out of hand across Western Canada yet, but it is on the rise, says a Canola Council of Canada (CCC) specialist who advises farmers to scout fields and consider rotating into different disease-resistant varieties to reduce the risk of disease buildup. There is still time this spring before seeding to […] Read more