During the winter of 2011-2012, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and the Canola Council of Canada sponsored a survey of canola growers across the three Prairie provinces to determine management practices and inputs used by the growers.

Sclerotinia stem rot (Sclerotinia sclerotiorum) is one of the most important biotic stresses influencing long-term production and economic stability for canola producers.

A three-part research study was conducted in western Canada to assess the environmental footprint of canola production in Canada. The results show that achieving high yields of grain dry matter and oil is essential to minimize environmental and carbon footprints.

Canola is a crop with high potential for seed-shatter and pod-drop, however, at this time no effective and proven tools to accurately and consistently estimate losses are available. Researchers at the University of Manitoba conducted a three-year study to evaluate different methods of estimating pod-drop and seed-shatter.

Researchers with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada conducted a large multi-location study from 2009 to 2011 to determine if growing a pulse crop to supplement nitrogen requirements of canola is economical and could reduce the amount of inorganic nitrogen required to optimize yield.

In a three-year project, researchers conducted surveys for harvest losses of canola on farms across western Canada. Researchers concluded that total on-farm harvest losses in canola are a complex phenomenon with many interacting variables that are difficult to separate.

Diamondback moth is a serious pest of canola and mustard in Canada, and although there are important parasitoids for managing diamondback moth outbreaks in canola, very little is known of their life histories and habitat requirements.

Researchers at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) in Saskatchewan conducted a three-year study to determine the yielding capacity of B. juncea canola in comparison with B. napus canola in various sites.

Researchers with AAFC conducted a comprehensive farm gate investigation on the best management practices that more advanced/experienced producers from across the major canola production zones of western Canada have been using in canola production.

Researchers with AAFC conducted a three-year study to determine the effect of various degrees of seeding uniformity and non-uniformity on canola plant establishment and seed yield in various soil-climatic zones.

A three-year study was conducted from 2010 to 2012 across western Canada in conjunction with planned Prairie Weed Surveys to determine the impact of the environment, management and weeds on canola crop establishment.

Nitrogen fertilizer costs have more than doubled in recent years, and therefore any increase in N use efficiency will reduce costs and increase farm profits.

Canola seeded area has nearly doubled in the last 10 years and ongoing expansion of the canola crushing industry and the growing potential for canola biodiesel production could require a further expansion in canola production in Canada by another 50% in the next decade.

Phosphate fertilizer is a major input cost for canola production. Researchers with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada conducted a three-year study (2008-2010) at two locations in Western Manitoba to evaluate the effect of various enhanced efficiency P fertilizers on seedling toxicity, yield and quality of canola.

Canola emergence is often only in the range of 40-60% even though high quality seed is planted. The objective of this study conducted in small plots and field scale strip trials across western Canada in 2011 and 2012 was to determine the effect of various seed drill opener types and ground speeds on resulting canola emergence in the Canadian prairies.

Researchers conducted a broad three-year project to evaluate improved practices for S and P management in canola. Under the project four main studies were conducted in 2010, 2011 and 2012 in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec.

Researchers developed and tested a proof of concept for a rapid farm-level detection test for blackleg disease as a potential method for predicting resistance or susceptibility to uncharacterized L. maculans isolates present in the field.

Clubroot in canola is a destructive soilborne disease that spreads mainly via contaminated soil carried from field to field by equipment.

Researchers from across western Canada initiated a five-year project in 2007 to study key insect pest species across the Prairie Ecosystem, as well as monitor potential new invasive species and their natural enemies.

Researchers with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada at Swift Current, Saskatchewan conducted a three-year project to evaluate canola and other crucifer cultivars for food and bio-diesel fuel production on saline lands.