September 18, 2009

Rainfall across many areas of western Canada halted combines temporarily but allowed most of the canola to be swathed, or cut, under relatively ideal conditions in the week ended Wednesday (September 16), according to a crop update from the Canola Council of Canada.

In its final report of the 2009 season, the CCC said that approximately 80 percent to 90 percent of the canola in Manitoba has been swathed. Overall, about 15 percent to 20 percent of the canola in the province has been combined and combining will likely cover the rest of Manitoba within the next few days. Preliminary yield reports are average to above average with good quality.

In Saskatchewan, approximately 80 percent to 90 percent of the canola is swathed with only the very latest fields (reseeded or late-emergence with July rains) still standing.

Combining of canola in Saskatchewan was expected to resume soon with the south already about 20 percent to 40 percent combined and about 10 percent of the crop in northern areas combined, the CCC said. Yields so far are reported as average to above average with good quality.

In Alberta, swathing generally ranges from 60 percent to 90 percent complete with some isolated areas only 25 percent complete. Swathing was expected to be completed within the next week. Only a few of the very earliest fields have been combined in most regions with a little further progress made on dryland canola in southern areas. Very little canola on irrigated land has been combined to date. The Peace River district is about 90 percent swathed with very little combining occurring yet, the CCC said.

The CCC said there were reports in isolated areas of Saskatchewan about fungus feeding beetles on canola swaths. These beetles feed on fungus that grows on crop residue or damp seeds.