For many years, the main blackleg management strategies in western Canada were variety resistance and crop rotation. However, with tighter crop rotations in most of the canola growing regions, there have been increasing reports of blackleg, with a sudden spike reported in 2012.

Canola meal (CM), a by-product of canola crushing, is the primary high-protein ingredient in Western Canada that is used as a protein supplement in feed rations for livestock, and being evaluated as an ingredient in fish diets.

In recent years herbicide resistant weeds have become increasingly problematic in canola, and weed densities have increased approximately three-fold in comparison to 2003 surveys.

Researchers at PAMI compared header types for straight combining canola in field-scale trials over three years, looking for the optimal system. Overall, the results of the study indicate there was no definitive harvest system that had the highest yield, or the most desirable crop qualities, across all conditions encountered.

A multi-year study was initiated in 2013 at Indian Head to evaluate the impacts of wider row spacing on canola (Brassica napus) performance and investigate implications for seeding rate, N fertilizer and weed management recommendations.

For longer-term storage of canola, determining the best management practices to maintain proper temperature and moisture in the bins during the prairies’ hottest months is required to minimize the risk of spoilage.

The abundance of pollinators in canola fields have the potential to boost yields and improve seed quality.

The swede midge, Contarinia nasturtii, is a significant pest of brassica vegetable crops and canola in eastern Canada. It was first discovered in Saskatchewan in 2007 where it now threatens the canola industry.

Cutworms are present across the Prairies, and in some years some species of cutworms can reach levels that are of economic concern in field crops. Researchers conducted a five-year project across the Prairies to develop better identification tools and a better understanding of cutworm biology and their natural enemies.

Nitrogen (N) fertilizer is one of the key inputs in most annual crop production systems, however, N fertilization strategies and decisions may also have longer-term implications for N dynamics in cropping systems.

Clubroot is a destructive soil-borne disease that represents a potentially serious threat to canola production in Saskatchewan. In a recent three-year study, researchers investigated the possibility of eradicating small areas of infestation if they were identified early enough, assessed different actives and determined the distribution of the pathogen in soils.

Crop diseases can be devastating to the profitability of producers, and certain diseases are particularly problematic, such as clubroot, blackleg and aster yellows.

Canola, one of the world’s most valuable oilseeds, is under constant pressure by the fungal pathogen, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, the causal agent of white stem rot.

A five-year laboratory and field study was conducted to evaluate seed treatments for control of crucifer flea beetles (CFB) and striped flea beetles (SFB) on hybrid canola.

Canola is a crop associated with large seed losses before and at harvest, including from pod shatter and pod drop. Researchers conducted a three-year study to develop and refine a method for measuring pod-retention resistance.

Although outbreaks are sporadic, the bertha armyworm continues to be an economically significant pest of canola in western Canada.

Sclerotinia stem rot causes significant yield loss for canola in western Canada each year; however, the impact to individual fields varies dramatically depending on specific environmental and weather conditions.

Sulfur (S) fertilizers have become an important part of the fertilizer mix for Saskatchewan growers, not only for canola, but also for pulse and cereal crops. The overall objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of different fertilizer forms as sources of plant available S to crops.

In western Canada, field surveys are showing an increased presence of two species of cleavers, which are difficult to control in many crops such as canola.

Clubroot, caused by Plasmodiophora brassicae, is a destructive soilborne disease that is now prevalent on canola (Brassica napus) in central Alberta and appears to be spreading to other regions of the Prairies.