August 7, 2009

Warm temperatures are needed across western Canada to hasten the maturity of canola crops, according to the Canola Council of Canada's update for the week ended August 6.

Significant heat is needed within the month of August and into early September to have the canola crop mature with good quality at harvest before the first fall frost, the report said.

The report also indicated that many areas could use one more general rain before harvest to maximize seed fill.

Canola crop development in western Canada ranges from early bloom in the late and re-seeded fields to fully podded in the early fields. Some of the very earliest fields in southwestern Manitoba and Saskatchewan were starting to show signs of colour change but swathing is still estimated to be about three weeks away, the CCC said.

Canola crop development continues to lag about one to two weeks behind the long-term average.

Thunderstorms during the reporting period brought hail to parts of Alberta and central Manitoba with concern expressed about the canola plant's ability to compensate and recover from the damage.

Grasshopper feeding on edges of canola fields was reported in the Clyde, Leduc and Barrhead areas and in parts of the Peace Region in Alberta.

If warm, dry conditions prevail, cutting of the earliest canola fields may begin within about three weeks, the CCC said.