Canola cropping systems harbour a diverse fauna of arthropods (insects, spiders, mites, and their relatives) at several trophic levels, and understanding their biodiversity can improve the ability to enhance the long-term sustainability of canola production.

Canola seed is a substantial input cost and poor canola stand establishment is a continuing concern for canola growers. On average, only 50% of planted seeds emerge; even when germination is above 90%.

A three-year study was initiated in 2010 by researchers with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada to focus on developing novel assessment technologies and crop management tools for control of insects, weeds and diseases in canola.

Canola varieties with high oil content have predominantly replaced low oil content canola grown in western Canada. Researchers in Manitoba conducted a three year study to develop more reliable safe storage guidelines for high oil content canola.

Researchers conducted a three-year project to study the economics of canola production systems including an input study and a rotation study. The results from the input study of a barley-canola rotation indicated the primary input that influences yield was weed control.

Growers may wish to limit herbicide use to reduce costs, crop injury, environmental concerns and herbicide-resistance selection pressure. However, reducing herbicide inputs can increase crop production risks.

Blackleg caused by Leptosphaeria maculans (LM) is a major disease of canola (Brassica napus) in Canada and world-wide. A solid understanding of the pathogenic variability of L. maculans populations is vital to maintaining effective resistance in future canola varieties.

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.