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Read the latest news from SaskCanola. Click on any headline below to read the full story. You can also browse the Archive for older stories.

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Story Posted: January 27, 2012
SaskCanola New Board of Directors
Board members for 2012-2013 were announced at the SaskCanola Annual General Meeting on January 12, 2012. Meet the new board of directors.

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Story Posted: January 20, 2012
2011 Investment Tax Credit Available to Registered Producers
SR&ED Investment Tax Credit for Registered Canola Producers: The Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) Program is a federal government program that encourages research and development by providing tax-based incentives.

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Story Posted: January 18, 2012
SaskCanola Webinar: Clubroot Update for Saskatchewan 2012, Register Now
Register online for the Clubroot Update for Saskatchewan 2012 web seminar (also called a webinar) that SaskCanola is putting on Tuesday, January 31, 2012. Space is limited for this webinar. Register today.

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Story Posted: January 17, 2012
2012 Regional Producer Meetings, get schedules and pre-register
Registration is now open for the 2012 Regional Producer Meetings. Get program information and register by phone. You can also pre-register online.

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Story Posted: January 12, 2012
Growers Association Amalgamates with SaskCanola
Saskatoon… The Saskatchewan Canola Development Commission (SaskCanola) and the Saskatchewan Canola Growers Association (SCGA) have amalgamated to form one canola organization under SaskCanola, to manage all grower resources and representation. This comes after almost two years of planning and working on shared goals by both organizations. The amalgamation took effect today at the conclusion of the final SCGA Annual Meeting.

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Story Posted: January 04, 2012
Canola Watch: Farm shows, Clubroot sanitation tips, Crop Week
Topics for the month: Farm shows. Clubroot sanitation tips. New CCC booth at January farm shows. Canola Watch CCA exam now available. Canola Performance Trial data.

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Story Posted: December 13, 2011
Canola seed trial results now available
Comparative data on canola seed varieties is now available to growers from the new Canola Performance Trials (CPT) 2011.

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Story Posted: December 08, 2011
Canola Watch: Crop planning, Check bins and bags, Coming events
Topics for the month: Crop planning. Check bins and bags. Canola Performance Trial results are coming soon. Canola Watch survey winners. Remembering Denise Maurice.

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Story Posted: December 06, 2011
Save the Date: 2012 Regional Producer Meetings
Get information about upcoming Regional Producer Meetings in 2012. Save the date and plan to attend. Program and registration information will be posted in early January.

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Story Posted: November 29, 2011
"Celebrating Canola Industry" banquet
Advance tickets are required for the banquet. Early bird tickets before December 20 are $40. After December 20 tickets are $45. Banquet tickets are available until January 6, 2012.

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Story Posted: November 04, 2011
SaskCanola Producer Conference and AGM
The SaskCanola Producer Conference, AGM will be held Thursday, January 12, 2012 - Ballroom B, Saskatoon Inn.

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Story Posted: November 03, 2011
Canola Watch: Soil tests, Tillage, Variety performance, Check bags
Topics for the month: A good time to test soils. Hold off on tillage. The seed decision. New insights for canola storage. Please fill in our Canola Watch survey.

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Story Posted: October 19, 2011
Is your canola getting enough food?
Fall soil tests of fields that were in canola in 2011 will tell you how much nutrients are left, and hint at whether the crop ran out of gas. This information, along with the soil test results from fields planned for canola next year, can help set fertilizer rates for 2012.

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Story Posted: October 13, 2011
Got canola with green seed?
If you're waiting for green seed counts to drop before combining canola, or if you have canola with high green seed counts sitting in a bin, quick action may be your best financial move at this stage of the season.

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Story Posted: October 05, 2011
Canola Watch: Harvest high green, More clubroot
Topics for the month: Green seed is the major issue for most growers waiting to finish canola harvest. Green seed levels in some fields are not dropping and are unlikely to drop further without a long period of moist and warm weather. Growers may have to accept the losses, combine now to salvage the quality they do have, then start shopping for buyers who will take delivery soon.

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Story Posted: October 04, 2011
Clubroot Disease Confirmed in Saskatchewan
Clubroot has been confirmed in two Saskatchewan canola fields, Brett Halstead, Chair of SaskCanola announced today. SaskCanola was advised by industry and government personnel on September 30, 2011 that plants from two fields in the north central part of the province showed the clubroot disease.

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Story Posted: September 29, 2011
CCGA Advance Payments Program Expands with Four New Commodities
Today, the Honourable Gerry Ritz, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, announced that beginning October 1, 2011, the Canadian Canola Growers Association (CCGA) will expand its administration capacity under the Advance Payments Program (APP) to include the issuance of cash advances for winter wheat. Beginning April 1, 2012, the CCGA will also begin issuing cash advances for spring wheat, durum and barley. The expansion to these additional commodities will be effective for the 2012-13 APP production period.

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Story Posted: September 26, 2011
Clubroot intensifies, check fields
Growers in fringe areas where clubroot is at low levels or has not yet been detected are encouraged to check their fields. Noticing the disease before it gets serious is an important step in long-term clubroot management.

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Story Posted: September 21, 2011
Canola Watch: Green seed, Fall weeds, Prep for 2012
Issues of the week: Turn on the aeration fans and leave them on. A lot of canola went into bins hot, and one crusher has already received some 2011 canola with 18% heated seed. With hot weather forecast again this week for some areas, conditioning canola is a top priority.

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Story Posted: September 14, 2011
Canola Watch: Frost response, Fall weed control, Cool those bins
Issues of the week: Frost hit many parts of the Prairies last night and earlier this week. The big questions for growers are: How soon after a frost should I swath? Or if I was lucky enough to miss this frost, do I go ahead and swath canola now to avoid the risk of the next one? The answer depends on a few factors, including the maturity of the crop and the temperature and duration of the frost.

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Story Posted: September 14, 2011
Canola Watch Alert: Wait 4 - 6 hours to assess frost damage
Did you have frost last night? Growers with standing canola are wondering whether to swath right away. Before making that decision, note the temperature and duration of the frost.

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Story Posted: September 08, 2011
Canola Watch: Let canola mature, Aerate all canola
Issues of the week: Warm days forecast for the coming week will give later canola crops a good chance to ripen further before swathing. If growers have a lot of canola to swath and feel they must swath something, go with the most mature crop first. On hot days, swath in the evening to give plants time to dry down slowly and let the green clearing processes function properly.

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Story Posted: September 02, 2011
Insect Update, Aug 29 - Sep 2, 2011
Final Weekly Update for 2011: Weather synopsis, average precipitation, accumulated rainfall, highest and lowest temperatures, West Nile Virus, Fall and Winter Meetings.

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Story Posted: September 02, 2011
Canola Watch Alert: When to swath after frost
In the past few days some regions, particularly in central Alberta, have experienced some light frosts. Producers are asking if these frosts caused damage and whether they should be swathing right away or waiting to let the crop mature further. Below are some things to consider when making this decision, followed by a link to a fact sheet with more details on assessing standing fields following fall frost.

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Story Posted: September 01, 2011
2011 Post-Harvest Cash Advances Now Available from CCGA
Effective today, the Canadian Canola Growers Association (CCGA) is now accepting applications for the 2011 fall cash advance program. "The Post-Harvest Advance Payment Program was established to help farmers generate cash flow from their stored crops, while giving them the flexibility to time the marketing of their grain sales," says Rick White, General Manager of the CCGA.

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Story Posted: September 01, 2011
Canola Performance Trials 2011 Well Underway
The new Canola Performance Trials (CPT) 2011 is approaching the harvest phase, with data expected to be available to farmers in early November, the Canola Council of Canada (CCC) announced today.

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Story Posted: August 31, 2011
Canola Watch: Swath timing, Clubroot spreads, Aerate hot canola
Issues of the week: Some canola growers are swathing canola at 10-15% seed color change because they’re worried about getting all their canola swathed before a heavy frost. If no serious frost in the forecast, leaving canola standing until it is closer to the optimum stage of up to 60% seed colour change may improve both yield and quality. Swathing at 10-15% seed color change or earlier on the main stem will mean that a lot of canola in upper pods and on side branches may be too immature to fill and/or cure adequately in the swath.

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Story Posted: August 30, 2011
Dr. Keith Downey Undergraduate Scholarship Award
The Dr. Keith Downey Undergraduate Scholarship awarded by SaskCanola is available to the immediate family of registered Saskatchewan canola producers who are enrolled in undergraduate postsecondary agriculture education in a recognized Canadian institution in the 2nd, 3rd or 4th years of their program.

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Story Posted: August 26, 2011
Insect Update, August 22 - 26, 2011
Brief Weekly Update: Weather synopsis, average precipitation, accumulated rainfall, highest and lowest temperatures, Wheat Midge, West Nile Virus.

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Story Posted: August 24, 2011
Canola Watch: Don't be tempted to swath early, desiccation, straight combining
Issues of the week: High temperatures (as high as mid 30’s in some areas) are occurring across the Prairies as swathing timing nears. Swathing under such hot conditions can result in rapid dry down (moisture loss) but longer curing (time for green seeds to clear chlorophyll). Swath as close to 60% seed colour change (SCC) as is practical under these hot conditions and do not swath during the heat of the day.

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Story Posted: August 19, 2011
Insect Update, August 15 - 19, 2011
Brief Weekly Update: Weather synopsis, average precipitation, accumulated rainfall, highest and lowest temperatures, Lygus bugs, Wheat Midge, West Nile Virus.

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Story Posted: August 17, 2011
Canola Watch: Insects, Swath Timing Tips, Harvest Management
Issues of the week: Lygus populations continue to be high and exceed thresholds in parts of Alberta and Manitoba. Many young nymphs are being found and crops are nearing the end of the susceptible stage so management decisions are being made on a field-by-field basis. Pay attention to pre-harvest intervals (time between application and cutting) this late in the growing season. Once a crop is within 7 days of being swathed, no insecticides can be applied.

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Story Posted: August 12, 2011
Insect Update, August 8 - 12, 2011
Brief Weekly Update: Weather synopsis, average precipitation, accumulated rainfall, temperatures, Lygus bugs, Wheat Midge, West Nile Virus.

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Story Posted: August 10, 2011
Canola Watch: Insects, Disease, Pre-harvest
Issues of the week: Insects are the hottest topic this week, with managing uneven maturity at swathing and harvest a close second. Before spraying those insects, make sure the target insect is properly identified and check that it has reached economic control thresholds throughout the field. If you need to spray, evening spraying will avoid high temperatures that could adversely affect insecticide performance. It will also reduce the impact on bees that are more actively foraging during the day.

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Story Posted: August 05, 2011
Insect Update, August 2 - 5, 2011
Brief Weekly Update: Weather synopsis, average precipitation, accumulated rainfall, Wheat Midge, West Nile Virus.

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Story Posted: August 05, 2011
Canola Watch Alert: Bertha threat rising
Bertha armyworm near economic thresholds. Hot, dry weather has been favorable for bertha armyworm numbers. Some growers in Manitoba, eastern Saskatchewan and the Peace River region have already sprayed as of early August 2011. All growers should scout canola fields immediately.

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Story Posted: August 04, 2011
Canola Watch: Late season insects, Harvest prep
Issues of the week: Diamondback moth, bertha armyworm, cabbage seedpod weevil and lygus bug are at or near thresholds in areas. Keep scouting to avoid losses due to late season insects.

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Story Posted: August 04, 2011
Funding Assistance to Saskatchewan Farmers Lauded
Saskatoon... Brett Halstead, Chair of SaskCanola today thanked the provincial and federal governments for funding $30 per acre under a new initiative that will further assist those canola growers and farmers who have suffered financial losses due to millions of flooded and unseeded acres this spring.

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Story Posted: July 29, 2011
Insect Update, July 25 - 29, 2011
Brief Weekly Update: Staff with AAFC-Saskatoon and AAFC-Beaverlodge were processing this week so again it's a brief Update this week.

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Story Posted: July 22, 2011
Insect Update, July 18 - 22, 2011
Brief Weekly Update: Staff with AAFC-Saskatoon and AAFC-Beaverlodge were out surveying this week so it's a brief update this week. Cabbage seedpod weevil (Ceutorhynchus obstrictus). Staff with AAFC-Saskatoon and AAFC-Beaverlodge completed surveying this week. Sample processing will start next week.

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Story Posted: July 20, 2011
Canola Watch: Combine Clinic highlights
Issues of the week: The theme this week is the Canola Council of Canada’s Combine Clinic - with tips to reduce combine losses. The first article below includes a link to a video interview with Les Hill, the lead off speaker at Combine Clinic. Later this week we will post interviews with representatives from the 5 combine companies present at this week’s clinic in Westlock, Alberta.

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Story Posted: July 15, 2011
Insect Update, July 11 - 15, 2011
Weather synopsis: Here's the rainfall over the past week... rain, rain and more rain in central and northern Alberta but also rain to the southeast of Saskatoon these past seven days. Recent rainfall in the Peace River region, near Calgary and southeast of Saskatoon resulted an even greater proportion of the prairies reaching at least 85% of average precipitation.

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Story Posted: July 13, 2011
Canola Watch: Fungicide for thin crop, Insect update
Issues of the week: Growers with uneven, thin or late canola are struggling with the sclerotinia spray decision, especially if they've been without rain or high humidity the past week or so. Uneven crop presents a challenge for spray timing. A split application may be worthwhile if the later plants or late-flowering branches still present a significant yield potential and are likely to mature.

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Story Posted: July 08, 2011
Insect Update, July 4 - 8, 2011
Weather synopsis: Less rain across the prairies this week but, on the positive side of things, two drier regions of the prairies, the north Peace River region and eastern central Alberta near Coronation, received some rain this week which improved the "percent of average precipitation" in the next map.

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Story Posted: July 08, 2011
Mosaic Stadium 'Pops' with Canola Oil!
Saskatoon/Regina... Through SaskCanola's partnership with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, Mosaic Stadium has changed its popcorn oil and topping to heart-healthy Canola oil! To celebrate this change, SaskCanola is pleased to introduce a new Rider popcorn bag, featuring Chris Getzlaf, Shomari Williams and Weston Dressler, to be launched at the SaskCanola Game Day, July 9, 2011.

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Story Posted: July 06, 2011
Canola Watch: Sclerotinia timing, Hail response
Issues of the week: Moist conditions increase the sclerotinia stem rot risk. High humidity (even if it doesn't rain) can promote apothecia to release higher levels of sclerotinia ascospores. Ideal timing for sclerotinia spraying is at 20% to 50% bloom.

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Story Posted: June 30, 2011
Insect Update, June 27 - 30, 2011
Weather synopsis: This week southern Manitoba, south Alberta Peace, and BC Peace River regions received significant rainfall. Recent rainfall has resulted in near- to above-normal precipitation levels through the majority of the prairies, however, the north Peace remains dry and areas within central Saskatchewan and Alberta currently sit at 60 - 85% of average precipitation for the growing season.

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Story Posted: June 29, 2011
Canola Watch: Help with sclerotinia decision, Spraying weeds late
Issues of the week: Many canola fields are under stress from excess water. A fertilizer top up may help, but hold off until the ground dries up and the crop starts actively growing again before making this investment. Rains have also delayed timely herbicide applications, so many growers are wondering about the real yield risk if they spray after the label window. The yield loss could be significant if growing conditions turn hot and dry after spraying. Plus the practice violates product labels.

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Story Posted: June 24, 2011
Insect Update, June 20 - 24, 2011
Weather synopsis: This week the central and northern prairies received significant rainfall. Heavy rainfall was reported along the Yellowhead highway and southeastern SK. Recent rainfall has resulted in improved moisture levels across central and northern regions. Overall most areas have received near normal rainfall. The northern Peace River region, northeast SK have had less than normal rainfall. The southern prairies have received rainfall amounts that are 150% (or more) of average rainfall.

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Story Posted: June 22, 2011
Canola Watch: Canola Watch: Water stress, Timely spraying, Sclerotinia prep
Issues of the week: Rain in the western Prairies has increased optimism, especially in the Peace River region, central Alberta and parts of Saskatchewan that needed rain. But wet fields will delay timely weed control in all regions. Aerial spraying may be the best option to get weeds controlled before the crop outgrows the safe stage for application.

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Story Posted: June 17, 2011
Insect Update, June 11 - 17, 2011
Weather synopsis: This week the prairies received less rainfall than the previous week. Heavy rainfall was reported across some locations across the Canada-USA border while the northern prairies received little or no rain. In terms of the entire growing season, rainfall amounts for April 1 - June12 continue to be below normal for central regions and wetter than normal across southern AB and SK. Most of MB is categorized as wetter than normal. Get the Prairie Pest Monitoring PDF for full details.

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Story Posted: June 15, 2011
Canola Watch: Cutworms, Weeds, Sprayer cleanout
Issues of the week: Weed control is top of mind for most growers. Many will finish their first in-crop herbicide pass this week, weather permitting. Insects are a close second to weeds. Flea beetles are active in all regions and spraying will be required in some cases, especially on fields with thin stands and/or slow crop growth from cool temperatures or frost damage. Cutworm spraying has also been reported in some regions.

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Story Posted: June 08, 2011
Canola Watch: Spraying tips, Aerial weed control, Seedling disease
Issues of the week: Cool conditions have slowed crop development. Seedling diseases are showing up in some canola plants that were seeded weeks ago and are still small. Canola across the Prairies needs heat so it can start to outgrow early season threats. Growers who still have canola to seed must remember to scout earlier seeded canola. These early crops have higher yield and profit potential and shouldn't be neglected. Crop insurance deadlines are near. If growers have seed they will not use, unopened bags can usually be returned. Check with your retailer.

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Story Posted: June 07, 2011
Did you walk your fields today?
Canola growers are encouraged to walk their fields a couple times a week - or more - until plants are firmly established and growing strong. Small and vulnerable canola plants face many threats during their first three weeks. The crop may need your protection to get through these stages with its top-end yield potential intact.

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Story Posted: June 03, 2011
Insect Update, May 30 - June 3, 2011
Weather synopsis: Western MB received significant amounts of rainfall from May 30 - June 5. Southwest SK and eastern AB received 30-50 mm of rain. Rainfall amounts for April 1 - June 5 continue to be below normal for central regions. Recent rainfall has occurred across AB and SK while conditions are wetter than normal across the south and in MB. Rainfall amounts in MB are 100 or more mm above normal. Get the Prairie Pest Monitoring PDF for full details.

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Story Posted: June 01, 2011
Canola Watch: Fragile stage, Wild oats, Volunteer crop
Issues of the week: With most canola seeded and starting to emerge across the western Prairies, scouting becomes a top priority. This is a canola crop's most vulnerable stage, and through scouting you can address threats early. Some growers in Manitoba and southeast Saskatchewan are taking desperate measures to seed canola. This includes aerial seeding. Unless you can get on the field immediately afterward to harrow, this is a high risk practice - especially if the field has any residue cover.

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Story Posted: May 31, 2011
Cutworms: Noctuidae Larval Collecting Protocol
Host plants: A large number of species of cutworms will feed on a wide range of plants from a number of families of plants. Cutworms will feed on most of the prairie-grown commodities including canola, mustard, wheat, barley, triticale, peas, alfalfa, clover, several fescue species, and timothy. Get the Cutworms Protocol PDF for full details.

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Story Posted: May 30, 2011
Canola Watch Alert: Wait 3-4 days after frost
Frost hit many areas of the Prairies again on the weekend. Some areas in central Alberta reported -8 C. This followed a frosts on a couple nights last week. Two key questions arise after a frost: Did the crop survive? (Do I need to reseed?) When can I resume weed control?

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Story Posted: May 25, 2011
Canola Watch: Frost, Insect update, When is too late to seed?
Issues of the week: Frost hit many areas of the Prairies on repeated nights over the past week. Emerged crop is at risk, especially delicate cotyledons. Wait 3 or 4 days, then look for regrowth before making any management decisions. Find time each day to scout for insects, weeds and other stand establishment issues. And for growers facing continued rain delays, know your crop insurance seeding deadlines.

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Story Posted: May 24, 2011
Insect Update, May 18 - 24, 2011
Weather synopsis: AB, as well as southern SK and MB, received significant rainfall from May 17 - 23. Rainfall amounts for April 1 - May 23 continue to be below normal for central regions across AB and SK while conditions are wetter than normal across the south and in MB. Growing degree day (GDD) (Base 5C, April 1 - May 23) indicate that the warmest conditions have been in southern MB and northwest AB. Get the Prairie Pest Monitoring PDF for full details.

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Story Posted: May 20, 2011
Patchy emergence could be cutworms
Seeding is the top priority right now, but take time everyday to scout emerged canola fields. Cutworms have been observed in some areas already and can wipe out huge patches of canola if they're left unchecked for too long.

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Story Posted: May 18, 2011
Canola Watch: Seed to moisture, Flea beetles feeding, Cutworms
Issues of the week: Strong winds have dried out the top inch of soil in many parts of Alberta and western Saskatchewan. Many canola fields could use a rain, as growers are seeding deeper to hit moisture. While growers rush to seed, take time during each day to scout for flea beetles on emerging crop, especially if wind has driven them down to feed on stems and undersides of leaves. Thresholds are lower for stem feeding.

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Story Posted: May 12, 2011
Insect Update, May 12 - 17, 2011
Weather synopsis: Rainfall amounts for April 1 - May15 have been below normal for AB and SK. An area between Wynyard and Edmonton has had less than 40% of normal rainfall. MB has experienced above normal rainfall. Get the Prairie Pest Monitoring PDF for full details.

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Story Posted: May 11, 2011
Canola Watch: Spray now, Hold off on broadcasting
Issues of the week: It will be a busy week of seeding in Alberta and western Saskatchewan as long as the weather holds. Soils are warm and seeds are germinating quickly. Rain delays continue in eastern Saskatchewan and Manitoba, but growers are reminded that canola seeded this week or next week will still have high yield potential. Many growers are enquiring about broadcast seeding, which can work but risks are high in no-till situations.

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Story Posted: April 28, 2011
Canola Watch: Take advantage of pre-seed prep time
Seeding is delayed across the Prairies due to excess moisture and cooler temperatures. Performing the following jobs now will help growers complete their seeding operation efficiently as soon as the fields are ready.

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Story Posted: April 11, 2011
SaskCanola Supports Open Market System for Canola
SaskCanola is not participating in a producer survey organized by the Manitoba Canola Growers Association. (MCGA) The MCGA is asking prairie farmers if they would be interested in selling some of their canola on a voluntary basis through the Canadian Wheat Board. This is in response to an MCGA resolution passed in 2006 to examine ''alternative methods'' of marketing canola.

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Story Posted: April 11, 2011
How the Federal Government Can Support the Canola Industry
The importance of Canola in Canada: Canola adds more than $14 billion annually to Canada's economy. Canola creates over 216,000 jobs in western and eastern Canada in production, transportation, crushing, refining and food development, manufacturing and service. Canola is the No. 1 source of crop receipts in Canada. In 2010, canola put $5.598 billion in 43,000 farmers' wallets.

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Story Posted: April 07, 2011
Canola Watch: Test soils, Broadcast seeding tips
In This Issue: Soil nutrient levels a mystery, Still time for spring soil tests, When trying a new fertility product, Tips for better broadcast seeding, Seed only registered varieties, New drill? Try peas first, Meet your CCC crop production staff, Questions and contacts.

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Story Posted: April 06, 2011
Win Registration to the 2011 Canola Conference!
Canola Council of Canada Annual Conference, July 26-28, 2011 Saskatoon. By completing the following online survey, you could be one of 10 lucky participants to win a full conference registration to the Canola Council of Canada conference this July. (Estimated value of $500).

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Story Posted: March 24, 2011
New Biofuel Mandate and Grant Program Applauded
Saskatoon... The announcement of a Saskatchewan Biofuel mandate and a five year $26 million program that will provide 13 cents per litre grant to eligible renewable diesel producers is applauded by SaskCanola, the producer led commission that represents some 26,000 Saskatchewan canola producers.

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Story Posted: March 09, 2011
Canola Watch: Fertilizer rates, Seeding rates, Budget for disease
In This Issue: Increase fertilizer rates to match yield potential, Larger seed requires higher seeding rate, 90% germ guaranteed for No.1 certified seed, Budget for disease management, Blackleg and tight rotations, Broadcast seeding in April, Coming events, Questions and contacts.

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Story Posted: February 24, 2011
Canola hits record high for farm cash receipts
Statistics Canada has released the farm cash receipt totals for 2010 and canola remains at the top. In 2010, canola put $5.598 billion in farmers' wallets - a record for Canada's golden crop and a 10 percent increase from canola farm cash receipt totals for 2009.

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Story Posted: February 24, 2011
SaskCanola Presentations from Crop Week 2011
Download presentations from Canola Days at Crop Week 2011 (available as PDFs). We will be adding more presentations as they become available.

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Story Posted: February 17, 2011
Canola Watch Alert: Canola heating
Canola is heating up. That's good news if we're talking prices. But it's bad news for canola in the bin. "We're getting regular reports this month from growers who have lost whole bins to heating. Some have lost multiple bins," says Jim Bessel, Canola Council of Canada senior agronomy specialist in Saskatchewan.

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Story Posted: February 10, 2011
Defeat of Bill C-474 Good News for Farmers
The results of yesterday's final vote defeating Bill C-474 is good news for canola farmers who rely on the advancement of new varieties to keep them competitive in the global oilseed market. "The changes proposed in Bill C-474 would have only added ambiguity and uncertainty to our seed system with the end result being a loss of innovation and competitiveness for farmers," says Ed Schafer, President of the Canadian Canola Growers Association (CCGA).

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Story Posted: February 09, 2011
Growers to Benefit from Next Generation Canola Variety Testing
A next generation canola variety testing program is moving forward this year to serve the needs of canola growers. The initiative, a result of extensive consultations, will involve most of the seed industry.

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Story Posted: February 07, 2011
Canola Watch: New drill tips, Spoilage increase, Cleavers
In This Issue: Take time now to prep new drill, Wider rows can increase damage from seed-placed N, Why canopy closure matters, More heated canola than usual, Snow cover benefits cleavers, Soil testing in winter, Coming events, Questions and contacts.

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Story Posted: February 04, 2011
SaskCanola Board of Directors Announced
Board members for 2011-2012 were announced at the SaskCanola Annual General Meeting on January 12, 2011.

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Story Posted: January 19, 2011
Canola Watch: Management tips for unseeded acres
In This Issue: Management tips for unseeded acres, Share your experiences with us, For more discussion on unseeded acres topics..., Questions and contacts.

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Story Posted: January 17, 2011
SaskCanola holding four Webinars on Wet Acres in March. Register now
Register online for the four web seminars (also called webinars) that SaskCanola is putting on in March, 2011. Each of the webinars deals with a different issue related to unseeded and flooded acres.

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Story Posted: January 07, 2011
2011 Regional Producer Meetings, get schedules and pre-register
Registration is now open for the 2011 Regional Producer Meetings to be held during February 2011. CCA Credits are pending. Click on the location for program information and registration or call toll free: 1-877-241-7044. You can also pre-register online.

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Story Posted: January 05, 2011
Canola Watch: Know your green count, Clubroot tips
In This Issue: Know your options for high-green canola, Clubroot: Management steps for infested land, Clubroot: Management steps for non-infested land in an infested region, Clubroot: Prevention steps for non-infested regions, Winners of the Canola Watch survey draw, Coming events, Questions and contacts.

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Story Posted: December 02, 2010
Get 6 CCA credits for Canola Watch exam
Certified Crop Advisors who pass the online Canola Watch exam will earn six CCA credits, including one for soil and water management. Your knowledge of 2010 canola production issues and solutions can be worth six Certified Crop Advisor (CCA) credits for 2010.

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Story Posted: December 01, 2010
Canola Watch: Blackleg tips, Seed selling fast, Bins heating
In This Issue: Tips to keep blackleg resistance strong, Top varieties selling out fast, Check bins, avoid costly surprises, Soil test wet fields in winter, Take the Canola Watch survey, Take the Canola Watch CCA exam, Coming events, Questions and contacts.

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Story Posted: November 18, 2010
SaskCanola Producer Conference and AGM (January 12, 2011), pre-register to win Rider tickets, get the AGM schedule of events
Pre-registrants who are registered canola growers in Saskatchewan will have their name entered into a draw for 4 Rider tickets for 2011 SaskCanola Rider Game Day next July. There will be 2 draws made and registrants must be at the meeting in order to be eligible for the Rider ticket draw. The draw is restricted to registered Saskatchewan canola producers, however all pre-registrants will be welcomed to the meeting which includes a buffet lunch.

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Story Posted: November 17, 2010
Time to check canola bins
Some canola went in the bin hot. Some went in damp. In all cases, even if it went in dry and cool, it pays to make sure stored canola is safe - especially at $12 a bushel.

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Story Posted: November 15, 2010
Farmers put firm demands in front of Rail Service Review Panel
Canadian Canola Growers Association and Grain Growers of Canada have submitted their final comments to the Rail Service Review Panel about the urgency for change in Canadian rail service. "This panel has an opportunity to make real changes and fix a chronically malfunctioning sector," says Ed Schafer, President of the Canadian Canola Growers Association.

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Story Posted: October 28, 2010
Fall soil tests key after wet summer
Excess moisture increases leaching and denitrification losses. Fall soil tests are a good practice every year, but they will be especially valuable after the summer of 2010.

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Story Posted: October 26, 2010
Selecting a new variety
Every year canola growers have a couple dozen new canola varieties to consider. The decision to add one or two new varieties to their rotation hinges on yield potential, disease management requirements, maturity, lodging resistance and price.

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Story Posted: October 19, 2010
Canola Watch: What is "distinctly green"?
In This Issue: Rules for "distinctly green" and other grading factors, Low expectations for fall seeded canola, Questions and contacts.

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Story Posted: October 06, 2010
Canola Watch: Fall weeds, white seed, green seed
A great chance for perennial weed control: Perennial weeds such as Canada thistle, dandelion, and quack grass are best controlled in the fall because these plants are moving nutrients down into their roots for winter. This is their most susceptible growth stage. Often by October it's too cool for effective fall weed control with glyphosate. But with a stretch of warm weather the past week, and in the forecast, the fall weed control window may be widened.

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Story Posted: October 04, 2010
Cash Advance Extension for Farmers with Flooded Bin Sites
Farmers who are unable to deliver stored grain and repay their 2009 cash advance with the CCGA because of excess moisture around their bin sites welcome today’s announcement from Gerry Ritz, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, to extend the repayment deadline to January 31, 2011.

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Story Posted: September 28, 2010
Drying tough and damp canola
Growers will take advantage of a few nice days this week to combine canola. Even with warmer temperatures in the forecast, some of it will come off tough or even damp. All canola should be conditioned after it goes into the bin to ensure safe long-term storage - especially if it goes into the bin warm. For tough and damp canola, the spoilage risk is much higher.

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Story Posted: September 24, 2010
Canola Watch: Four weeks in swath? Be patient
With crop that's been in the swath for 3, 4 or 5 weeks and is not drying down, growers are probably best to be patient and wait for better harvest conditions. It is still September and the risk of having to leave the crop to overwinter in the swath is still reasonably low. In most cases, canola quality will not deteriorate and with a couple warm days dry down should advance quickly.

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Story Posted: September 21, 2010
Canola Watch Alert: Frosted pods shattering
Sept. 21, 2010 - Swath canola hit by heavy frost. Canola that was still fairly green when heavy frost hit this week will desiccate quickly. Pods can start dropping or shattering within days. The photos below show canola pods 24 hours after a minus 7°C frost this week. Pods dry out prematurely, then shatter or break off at the pedicel.

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Story Posted: September 20, 2010
Assessing the Economic and Ecological Impacts of Herbicide Tolerant Canola in Western Canada
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 2007, a producer survey was undertaken to learn more about the producer level impacts that were being observed one decade after commercialization. Download the full report as a PDF.

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Story Posted: September 17, 2010
Canola Watch Alert: Check crops today after frost
September 17, 2010 - Did you have frost last night? Growers with standing canola are wondering whether to swath right away. Before making that decision, note the temperature and duration of the frost.