Canola Watch: CanoLAB invite | Fertilizer rates

Canola Council of Canada will host CanoLABs at three locations: March 19 at the University of Alberta (Edmonton), April 3 at Assiniboine College (Brandon) and April 9 at the University of Saskatchewan (Saskatoon). The event, designed for agronomists, provides a pre-season, hands-on learning experience to improve your knowledge of blackleg, verticillium stripe, insects and nutrient management. Plus, you can earn 4 CEUs by participating. Registration and information

How to estimate crop profitability in 2025?

Provincial crop calculators can help agronomists and farmers run through profitability scenarios using current input costs and estimated crop prices.  

ALBERTA: Try the “Crop returns enterprise analysis tool” here. 
SASKATCHEWAN: Try the “Crop planning guide and crop planner” here.
MANITOBA: Try the tools here and watch the 2025 cost of production video with Darren Bond.   

Read Agronomy tips to help increase canola profit 

What is the ideal fertilizer rate for canola in 2025?

That depends on target yields, soil test results, 4R practices, fertilizer prices and canola prices. The key message is that trade issues, and the resulting effect on canola and fertilizer prices, will lead some to evaluate their fertilizer investment. Use the calculators mentioned in the previous article to run profit scenarios based on current input and grain market prices. In many cases, cutting inputs to save costs could create a greater profit challenge if nutrient shortages lead a large drop in yield. Balanced and adequate crop nutrition are important steps in profitable canola. Resources to help with decision-making:

• This fundamentals article has a whole new section on soil test interpretation.
• How much fertilizer does canola need? 
• The latest canola grower survey shows that 7% of farmers include “in-crop top dressing” in their nitrogen practice. (Peaking at 13% in southern and western Saskatchewan.) 
• Can an agronomist help improve profits relative to nutrient decisions? When asked in the grower survey, “Do you have a 4R nutrient management plan that was developed with a certified 4R agronomist?,” 20% of respondents said yes. Another 16% were not sure. Shopping for an agronomist

Any crop insurance tools that can help with planning?

Canola Watch asked provincial crop insurance providers to identify under-utilized tools.

ALBERTA – Agriculture Financial Services Corporation (AFSC): AFSC has a Yield Estimation Calculator for Annual Crops to help farmers and their agronomists with a mid-season assessment of crop growth. 

SASKATCHEWAN – Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation (SCIC): In 2024, approximately 31.1 million acres were reported to the Sask Management Plus (SMP) program. This unbiased resource will help farms analyze the production of specific crops. Individual producer information is kept strictly confidential. SCIC also provides calculators, maps, seeding date tool, statistics and more. 

MANITOBA – Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation (MASC): The Manitoba Management Plus Program provides Manitoba farmers with average yield data, by crop and variety, viewable by risk areas or RMs. This information can help farmers select the crops and varieties best suited for the area they farm in.

How to prep the drill for stand establishment?

Openers with sharp edges and limited wear work better to cut through residue, achieve consistent seed depth and provide the essential separation between seed and fertilizer. These benefits improve seed survival and crop uniformity, which improve the return on investment for seed. A canola crop with five to eight plants per square foot emerging uniformly is more competitive against weeds and insects. Seeding tool pre-season inspection 

How to safely store canola into summer?

Growers can prepare now to extend safe canola storage into the summer. A PAMI study shows that canola stored from winter to spring to summer is best left alone. The key conclusion: “If canola in the bin is dry and cold coming out of winter, then just leave it be. But monitor the temperature, watching for any rapid increases.” Take advantage of cold days (if we have any) to run cold air through bins that could be colder. How to check bins and bags for spoilage. 

How can a spring blackleg test help growers choose the right cultivar for each field?

Agronomists and growers could scout fields planned for canola and look for blackleg-infected stubble pieces. Laboratory analysis of these pieces could help growers choose canola cultivars with resistance to the primary blackleg races identified on that stubble. Ask your seed supplier what blackleg races your canola cultivar is resistant to.  Understanding Blackleg Resistance