Shaw: Field Survey of alternative seeding methods of canola under extreme wet weather conditions in Southeast Saskatchewan, 2011
Date: January 2012
Term: 1 year
Status: Completed
Researcher(s): Lana Shaw, South East Research Farm, Redvers, SK
SaskCanola Investment: n/a
Total Project Cost: n/a
Funding Partners: n/a
Project Summary
Given the extreme wet conditions in Southeast Saskatchewan during the seeding season of 2011, producers attempted to use innovative ways of seeding their canola. Broadcasting seed by airplane or Valmar-type of spreaders resulted in an average of close to 20 bu/acre yields.
Extensive research has been done to develop agronomy recommendations for establishing excellent canola stands in order to maximize profits for most years that you grow canola. SaskCanola has invested in and continues to invest in invaluable research on this topic because we believe that producers are leaving money on the table by not seizing the opportunities to squeeze out great profits from great stands.
But, what happens when things get extraordinarily wet, such as in Southeast Saskatchewan and Southwest Manitoba in 2011?
Lana Shaw, researcher at the SE Research Farm (SERF) near Redvers was in the heart of that soggy area. Since they weren’t able to accomplish much under the conditions at their own site, they decided to survey many farms who tried to establish canola stands last spring, many doing so by broadcasting their canola.
Thirty-two canola fields were surveyed in the region from Moosomin to Carnduff. A few of the early ones were mudded in by air drill, but as it got even wetter, more were broadcast by airplane and Valmar-type spreaders, others left as volunteer canola. In almost all cases, they were harrowed in.
Both plant populations and farmer-reported yields are included in the SERF report and some of the data is in the table included here. Notable is the range of yields for various ways of getting the seed on and into the ground achieving anywhere from nothing (volunteer crop that was baled) to 30 bpa.
The question then becomes, would you do this in similar circumstances? The jury would say that we can do better than this under normal conditions by following the research done under normal conditions. This year proves producers aren’t always faced with normal and they are forced to adapt to the conditions they have been given. In extremely wet conditions, here are just some of the pros and cons to broadcast seeding:
Canola Yield (bpa)Possible Benefits
Financial benefits – very individual
Preferable to mudding it in with a drill?
Something other than weeds using moisture and nutrients
Stress release?
Possible Risks
Financial risks – very individual
Rotation is important – poor ‘canola year’ vs delayed ‘canola year’?
Subsequent incorporation and weed control?
In a drier year… stranded seed to be expected
Would these producers do it again? Some would. Although we don’t have their final word, one of our directors, Franck Groeneweg from Edgeley used the broadcast and incorporate method in 2010. His actions spoke when he sold his harrows the next year to avoid the temptation, even though achieving an average yield of 18 bpa.
Table 1. Canola plant populations and seed yield for 32 Southeast Saskatchewan extremely wet fields in 2011. Source: Lana Shaw, PAg Research Manager, South East Researc Farm, Redvers, SK