Researchers are using standard molecular biology protocols to generate a genetic framework map and to try to develop lines that include genetic control of pod shatter.

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.

Pea meal and pea and canola protein concentrates provide a significant advantage over soybean meal in salmonid diets according to research at the University of Saskatchewan.

Fusarium wilt resistance in Brassica napus was found to be conferred by a single dominant gene, the A-genome. This means that B. rapa and B. oleracea may be sources of resistance to fusarium wilt available to B. napus breeders.

Lactating dairy cows or growing beef cattle require amino acids for milk production and growth. These amino acids are the "building blocks" of milk protein and skeletal muscle.

The best defense against fall flea beetle damage to canola seed yields was to seed at mid-May or earlier. Seeding date had the greatest influence on harvest parameters for all factors investigated, and in most trials earlier seeded plots outyielded later seeded plots.

Blackleg continues to be found throughout the canola growing area and new strains of Leptosphaeria maculans have been observed in western Canada.

Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is one of the most important pathogens affecting canola and other susceptible crops such as dry bean in western Canada. In canola, even a yield loss of 3% would cost producers approximately $13M yearly.

Researchers in Saskatchewan conducted a three-year trial from 2006 to 2008 to assess the potential of pushing canola as a pre-harvest management option compared to swathing, pushing and/or desiccating, and straight cutting canola.

The development of early maturing canola is crucial to the northern canola growing areas of western Canada. Although B. rapa has several advantages over B. napus, producers currently have very few cultivars from which to choose, and only one with resistance to blackleg.

Juncea canola can be considered as an alternate oilseed crop that is adapted to the semiarid areas of the northern Great Plains where high temperature and drought stresses often limit the productivity of conventional napus and rapa canola species.

Most of Canada’s canola crop is produced using certified seed. With rising input costs, some producers are tempted to save and replant seed (farm-saved seed) grown from a hybrid variety.

In Canada, Aster Yellows Disease (AY), caused by ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris’ affects several economically important crops including canola. Until recently, the disease has been considered to be of little importance, however, in 2007 crop production losses were higher than estimated with the visual AY assessment.

Flexibility in rotation planning allows canola and field pea producers to adapt to changing management practices and marketing opportunities. Current recommendations are to follow a one in four year rotation for canola or field pea on a particular field.

Technologies have been developed to control the extensive feeding that occurs in Canola (Brassica napus) due to the crucifer flea beetle.

The clubroot pathogen, Plasmodiophora brassicae is now established as a pest of canola in central Alberta and may be spreading to other regions of the province.

Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is the causal agent of Sclerotinia stem rot (SSR), and can cause severe economic damage to Argentine canola. Researchers know that if it were available, genetic resistance to SSR would be an attractive option to canola growers.

Ecoclimatic modeling indicates that most of Canada is suitable for establishment of swede midge, including most of Saskatchewan. In 2007, swede midge were found in three fields in Saskatchewan for the first time.

The first objective of this study was to investigate the effect of production practices on the quality and vigour of open-pollinated Argentine canola. Seeding date and swathing time of the mother crop had a significant effect on seed quality.