Producers are growing canola with much higher oil content compared to 10 years ago. Current recommendations for safe storage of canola are based on previous lower oil content varieties.

Root maggots, principally the cabbage maggot, have increased in incidence and damage severity in canola in all three Prairie Provinces. Currently, estimates of average annual losses from root maggot damage range from $20 million to $75 million; in years of severe infestation, losses may reach $100 million.

Crucifer-feeding flea beetles, principally Phyllotreta cruciferae (crucifer flea beetle) and P. striolata (striped flea beetle) are the most economically damaging insect pests of canola on the Canadian prairies.

Given the extreme wet conditions in Southeast Saskatchewan during the seeding season of 2011, producers attempted to use innovative ways of seeding their canola.

Canola can be significantly affected by diseases such as sclerotinia stem rot, blackleg and alternaria black spot resulting in loss of crop productivity and quality.

Traditionally swathing is recommended for napus canola over straight-combining because of the risks of yield loss due to shattering.

Blackleg is a serious disease of canola caused by the fungal pathogen Leptosphaeria maculans. A number of different sources of partial resistance genes (Rlm) to blackleg disease have been identified and characterized in several Brassica napus cultivars.

In a previous study (Project Code: CARP2006-02) AAFC researchers determined the race structure of Leptosphaeria maculans, the species responsible for the most damaging symptoms of blackleg of canola in Canada.

It is well known that a contact herbicide such as Liberty is less effective on hard-to-wet weeds such as wild oat or cleavers. Wild oat control can be improved by tank-mixing with a Group 1 graminicide; however, there are no tank-mixes that will improve control of cleavers.

Producers have noted much more severe infestations of seedling blight and root rot in canola fields. Researchers conducted both field and greenhouse studies from 2007 to 2010 to identify the organisms associated with the increased incidence of root rot in hybrid canola crops, and to determine how to optimize cultural methods to reduce the impact of seedling blight and root rot on canola seedling populations and on plant yield.

Previous research conducted from the 2007 to 2009 by the Richardson’s Ground Squirrel (RGS) (RGS; Spermophilus richardsonii) Research Program in search of effective and socially acceptable toxicants, has provided a greater understanding of ground squirrel populations and control methods.

Herbicide tolerant (HT) canola was introduced in Western Canada in 1995 through an identity preserved production and marketing system, with unrestricted commercial production beginning in 1997. The subsequent adoption was relatively rapid, with 26% in the initial year, 78% by 2002 and 95% by 2007.

In 2009, weather conditions during the cropping season delayed canola development and fall harvest into October and November.

Researchers in Saskatchewan initiated a three-year project in 2010 to try to answer the question of how producers could respond when faced with low plant populations in hybrid canola due to poor stand establishment, spring frost, or pest damage.

Yield losses from infestations of root maggots (Delia spp.) can be severe in canola crops in central Alberta.

Nitrogen fertilizer is a major input cost in canola (Brassica napus L.) production and farmers are interested in improving nitrogen use efficiencies.

Field trials and grower experiences alike have shown that, while it is not uncommon to straight-combine canola successfully, substantial yield losses can occur and have been reported as high as 50% relative to swathing.

Clubroot of canola, caused by the pathogen Plasmodiophora brassicae (Pb), is an emerging threat to canola production in western Canada. In 2008, researchers initiated a three-year study to assess microbial biofungicides as well as indigenous soil microorganisms for control of clubroot on canola.

Canola farmers seeking to maximize returns should target populations so that even under adverse conditions they will have more than 50 plants per square metre (5 plants per square foot).

Producers are encouraged to use pheromone baited traps to monitor diamondback moth flight. This information can predict expected larval densities in their crop.