July 6, 2009

Canola in much of Alberta and the western half of Saskatchewan require precipitation soon in order to promote growth, according to the Canola Council of Canada's crop update for the week ended July 2.

 

Rainfall in Saskatchewan was variable, but soil moisture is reported as adequate due to the rains received 10 days ago, the report said. However, in many areas, rapid crop growth is using up the moisture quickly, and more rainfall will be needed shortly.

 

Storm systems in Alberta were showery but didn't result in significant precipitation, the report said. Much of the province continues to be dry and needs rainfall soon. Very little rainfall in May or June has left parts of southern Alberta extremely dry. Some fields of canola have been removed and re-seeded to greenfeed in these areas.

 

The southern Peace region of Alberta didn't receive any precipitation, and conditions are very dry. The Northern Peace region received 1 to 1 and a half inches, and soil moisture is good.

 

Rainfall in Manitoba late last week and over the weekend brought much-needed moisture to parts of the central and southwest regions. Rainfall amounts in these areas were a half inch to 2 inches. Heaviest rainfall amounts were reported in the eastern part of the province, with as much as 5 and a half inches. Standing water is reported on fields in this area.

 

Canola development continues to be quite variable within an area and even within a single field in some areas, the report said.

 

Re-seeded and late-seeded fields range from just emerging to the 2 to 3 leaf stage of development. Rainfall in areas that were extremely dry is resulting in a "second flush" of germinating canola, resulting in staging from cotyledon to budding and bolting in the same field.

 

Where soil moisture is limited, pre-mature bud formation and bolting is occurring from small, unthrifty plants, the report said. Where soil moisture is not limited, the return to more seasonable temperatures has helped advance canola development.

 

Earliest seeded fields are at the bolting stage, with some fields in early flower.

 

Most areas still report overall crop development as later - about one to three weeks - than normal. Continued warm weather and a return to more average moisture are certainly needed to bring crop development up to normal, the report said.

 

There were reports of hail in southwest Manitoba and northern Saskatchewan, the report said. Frost (minus 1 degree Celsius) was reported in Alberta in isolated areas Sunday night/Monday morning.

 

Reports of cutworms in canola fields continue in parts of Saskatchewan and Alberta, the report said.

 

Cabbage seedpod weevil has been seen in canola fields throughout southern Alberta and southwestern Saskatchewan as crops have started to bolt.

 

All three provinces report increasing grasshopper populations, although it appears as if few, if any, canola fields have been sprayed to date.