Reading Time: 2 minutes Two longtime Canola Council of Canada agronomists have moved on while another who specializes in cereals has joined Alberta Wheat and Alberta Barley. Dan Orchard, who covered agronomy in Wetaskiwin, is now consulting in the same region, and Greg Sekulic, who was responsible for the Peace Country is joining Croplife Australia. “Nobody was cut, nobody […] Read more
Familiar figures in the provincial agronomy scene on the move
Two canola council agronomists leave organization while cereal commissions hire second crop specialist
Going green could be golden for canola growers
Ottawa’s new ‘clean fuel’ rules could quadruple the amount of canola processed into biodiesel
Reading Time: 4 minutes Ottawa’s new “clean fuel” rules aren’t in place yet — much less new biodiesel plants — but going green will be a big win for canola growers, say industry officials. “We are excited about the opportunity because what drives the demand for feedstock is the ability of that feedstock to lower the carbon emissions of […] Read more
Using more canola for biofuels would be a ‘win win’
Canola Council of Canada backs the federal government’s plan to boost the use of green fuels
Reading Time: 2 minutes Part of the federal government’s plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is drawing qualified praise from the Canola Council of Canada. The organization says it “sees potential in the federal government’s proposed rules for the Clean Fuel Standard.” The measure is intended to “reduce the carbon intensity of the fuels” and one of those ways […] Read more
Stand establishment: If it’s bad news, it’s better to know early on
Measuring emergence let’s you know what’s not working and helps to deal with issues this year
Reading Time: 4 minutes Scouting for disease, insects and weeds pays — and so does assessing plant stand establishment, says a Canola Council of Canada agronomist. Getting a handle on emergence (and therefore seed mortality) can reveal which management practices aren’t working, said Autumn Barnes. “If producers go out and get these numbers they can see, just as a […] Read more
Canola producers mark depressing anniversary
One year on, Canada and China seem no closer than ever to resolving canola seed ban
Reading Time: 2 minutes It’s been a year since China banned most imports of Canadian canola, and there’s no end in sight. “It’s a very frustrating situation for producers and the industry,” Jim Everson, president of the Canola Council of Canada, said in an interview at the Canadian Crops Convention here. “There are some exports going to China (but) […] Read more
Confusing canola council tweet ‘bugs’ farmers
Tweet suggested council and Ducks Unlimited were partnering in agronomy project on beneficial insects
Reading Time: 3 minutes A tweet that suggested the Canola Council of Canada and Ducks Unlimited Canada were working together on an agronomy project prompted a firestorm of angry comments. The tweet, posted on Feb. 1, was about a project on beneficial insects in wetlands, shelterbelts, and other insect habitats. The idea of the canola council and Ducks Unlimited […] Read more
The Year That Was: China punishes Prairie farmers
For crop growers, China’s canola seed ban was the big news story of 2019
Reading Time: 2 minutes China’s near-total ban on Canadian canola seed dominated the news cycle in the past year. “The biggest challenge we faced through 2019 was the blockage of canola seed shipments to China,” said Jim Everson, president of Canola Council of Canada. “China is, of course, a very significant market for canola seed, oil, and meal, but […] Read more
The Year That Was: Clubroot continued its deadly march in 2019
The disease didn't make the headlines in 2019 but its assault on Alberta continued
Reading Time: 5 minutes The rapid spread of clubroot in the last decade will continue in the coming one if canola growers don’t start to get ahead of the disease. “The resistance is being overcome already, and some of those cases are pretty significant and serious infestations,” said Dan Orchard, agronomy specialist with the Canola Council of Canada. “In […] Read more
New clubroot strain found in Manitoba sends a message to all canola growers
Discovery is a reminder growers need to ‘take this disease seriously and implement clubroot management plans’
Reading Time: 3 minutes The discovery of a new clubroot strain not controlled by traditional resistant canola varieties underscores the need to be proactive in keeping clubroot spore numbers low. “This is yet another cue for the industry to continue to take this disease seriously and implement clubroot management plans,” said Dan Orchard, agronomy specialist with the Canola Council […] Read more
Dealing with the canola crisis on your farm
Controlling costs, marketing plans, and finances should all be on your radar
Reading Time: 5 minutes No one can predict what China will do next when it comes to Canadian canola. There are certain things that you can do on your farm, but producers face some tough decisions when it comes to deciding what to spend on inputs, when to pull the trigger on sales, and whether to take a large […] Read more
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