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Ontario
Canola Growers
Association
April 2015
Newsletter
President’s Message
The slow warm up this spring provides a good
demonstration of the value of including canola in your
rotation in order to get your winter wheat crop planted and
off to a good start. If you are in southern Ontario, be sure
to consider that extra yield for winter wheat going in right
after canola when you are deciding on rotation options.
On the heels of last year’s successful return to “bin buster”
yields in southern Ontario, we anticipate acres in this area
are poised to rebound.
In the northern Temiskaming area, learning more about
controlling Swede Midge remains a priority for OCGA. We
will be monitoring swede midge traps on several of last
year’s canola fields for indications of how quickly
populations decline and the positive effect of canola within
a more diverse rotation.
In central Ontario we will continue our swede midge
control trials adding the variable of moving to larger field
trials and we will be offering swede midge traps to
agronomists and producers who are committed to monitor
for improved control. See more on this on Page 2.
Our commitment at OCGA is to continue to provide the
tools for “Profitable Canola Production.” With the
ongoing issue of access to rail freight in the west, Ontario
basis is high again, providing opportunities for profitability
for Ontario farmers again in 2015.
I assure you that OCGA is working hard to find a
management program to control Swede Midge and return
canola as a viable and sustainable rotation option for
Ontario Farmers.
Have a safe spring season,
Terry Phillips,
President, Ontario Canola Growers Association
Canada Post Publications Agreement #40013291
2015 Swede Midge Monitoring
 Monitoring your swede midge populations is part of the 2015 recommended swede
midge management program.
 OCGA will sponsor the trap costs of any grower who monitors a canola crop for the
first 8 to 10 weeks after emergence and shares the results with OCGA on a bi-weekly
basis. This is how it will work:
To effectively monitor
swede midge the
population counts must
be recorded
twice each week
for 8 to 10 weeks after
emergence.
This is a commitment
that will take time
during the
busy spring season.
If you do not have the
time to commit to this,
we suggest you
consider the services of
an agronomic
consultant to help.
1. Send an email to [email protected] to request monitoring supplies, including:
 Name
 Home address and location of field (GPS and physical location).
 Phone contact (preferably cell phone).
2. If you are an agronomist, please include the same information for each of the growers you will be
providing monitoring services for.
3. Participate in the monitoring program by checking traps bi-weekly and sending the swede midge
population numbers to OCGA. We will make this as easy as possible for you. You can text or
phone your population counts in right from the field.

OCGA will assist with your initial identification of swede midge caught on trap liners.
Please note: We recommended a 20X magnifier (10X minimum) for identification.

The swede midge populations you report will be posted on the swede midge
monitoring map on OCGA’s website at www.ontariocanolagrowers.ca

Alerts on rising swede midge population counts will be circulated by email and other
social media.
Page 2
Ontario Canola Growers Association
April 2015 Newsletter
Goodbye and a Huge Thank You to Brian Hall
I’m sure most have heard the sad news (well at least
for us) that Brian Hall will be retiring from his
position as Canola Specialist with OMAFRA later this
spring. What a gap this will leave for OCGA and what
gratitude and appreciation we extend to Brian for all
the effort and dedication he has provided to Ontario’s
canola industry.
Brian demonstrated great commitment to Ontario
farmers through his career’s work of improving and
sharing credible information on optimal canola
production. There have been so many occasions when
someone would recount to me a story of Brian
working on trials right through a weekend or in the
pouring rain or loading his equipment up late at night
only to return for more the next morning.
What Brian contributed to the Ontario canola industry
is really quite outstanding. Because of OCGA’s small
size as an organization, large scale research projects
were generally out of our economic reach but Brian
was always keen to run field trials on the current
April 2015 Newsletter
canola issues. He has been tireless in the help he gives
to producers. His phone rings constantly. He has
spoken at virtually all of our crop tours and annual
meetings. He has provided most of the content for our
newsletters. Really he was the meat in our sandwich
and his loss will be felt greatly.
At the time of writing this newsletter we had not yet
received a decision from OMAFRA on whether they
intend to continue this position. If not, this will most
certainly be a tremendous loss to our industry. Quite
frankly it will be huge loss and I am not sure how we
can effectively carry on without the support of this
position.
On behalf of the Ontario Canola Growers board, I
would like to say a huge thank you to Brian. Your
career’s work contributed significantly to our
understanding of how to grow canola through
profitable and sustainable practices. You will be
greatly missed.
Carrie James, Ontario Canola Growers Association
Ontario Canola Growers Association
Page 3
Nitrogen Management Options in Canola for 2015
by Brian Hall, OMAFRA, Canola Specialist
2015 is shaping up to be a challenging year for keeping
canola production costs in line with potential returns.
Rising fertilizer prices have put the squeeze on potential
profits and nitrogen management will play a key factor.
The ideal goal is to apply enough nitrogen so that any
higher rate won’t produce enough extra yield to pay for
the added nitrogen. This nitrogen rate is called the most
economical nitrogen rate (MERN) which is commonly
stated in corn and canola nitrogen recommendation tables.
However identifying this optimum N rate is complex
given nitrogen dynamics in soil.
What Rate of Nitrogen?
Canola has high nitrogen
requirements. A one tonne/ac
canola crop will remove 85 lb
N/ac in the grain + uptake an
additional 55 lb N/ac in the
straw = 140 lb/ac in total. To
optimize the return on nitrogen
growers need to account for the
price of nitrogen and canola in
deciding on nitrogen rates.
Table 1 (see page on right),
shows the MERN based on the
relationship between canola
price and nitrogen price. For
example using a canola price of
$500/tonne and nitrogen price
of $615/tonne for Urea ($0.62/
lb of N); the most profitable N
rate is estimated at 88 lb N/ac
(195 lb/ac Urea).
These results do
show that for
2015,
there is little
reason to reduce
or increase
nitrogen rates,
and you should
continue to use
your
optimum rate or
120 lb N/ac.
Nitrogen rates have generally increased since these trials
were done from 2001 to 2003, with 100 to 120 lb N/ac
being more commonly applied today. From 2010 to 2012
we conducted a number of on-farm trials to review these
nitrogen rates. Results from these trials do support the
higher rate of N as being most profitable.
These trials showed that returns improved by $19/acre on
average by using 120 lb N/ac vs 80 lb N/acre. However,
returns were reduced by using 160 lb N vs the 120 lb N
rate. There was variability in response to nitrogen in these
trials, where the 120 lb N rate was more profitable than
the 80 lb N rate only 57% of the time. This is not the
whole story, because many would rightfully ask what the
biggest loss in yield was from only applying 80 lb N/ac.
At one location in 2011 (very wet spring) the 120 lb N/ac
rate yielded 740 lb/ac (over 40% >) more than 80 lb N. I
suspect at this site which had a clay loam soil, loss of
nitrogen was due to denitrification (lost to atmosphere)
from prolonged wet saturated soil conditions.
Page 4
Fine Tuning Nitrogen Application Timing
Starter N — Seed row placement of N can be efficient,
but is not nearly as beneficial as that of seed placed
phosphorus. Because of ammonia toxicity problems with
starter N, rates should not exceed 10-20 lb N/ac in seed
placed fertilizer. On sandy soils or very dry conditions, do
not use more than 10 lb N/ac. There is no difference in
seed row safety between ammonium nitrate, ammonium
sulphate and urea. One way to apply higher rates of N in
starter is to use polymer coated urea (ESN). The safe rate
of ESN can be up to 2-3 times the amount of straight
urea. Growers need to note that MAP (11-52-0) is
usually safe at rates below 45 kg/ha (40 lb/ac) or 22 kg/ha
(20 lb/ac) of actual phosphorus. MicroEssentials S15 (1333-0-15S) has also demonstrated better canola seed safety
at similar phosphorus rates to MAP. Do not apply potash
or sulphur in starter fertilizer because of risk of injury and
reduced emergence.
Timing of Application – Canola is like many other
field crops that typically utilize less than 50% of the
applied nitrogen in the year of application. The goal in
timing nitrogen application is to supply adequate N when
the crop needs it without it being lost to the environment
or supplying more than the crop can utilize.
Canola requires only a small fraction of total N up to the
5th leaf stage at which point rapid vegetative growth
requires a large amount of N up to pod development.
Canola has an extremely rapid growth between the rosette
stage and flowering, unmatched by most other crops. This
huge biomass production is driven directly by nitrogen
and is closely related to yield.
Two approaches to reduce the risk of N losses to leaching
or denitrification and improving nitrogen efficiency use
are by either split nitrogen application timing or use of a
‘stabilized’ nitrogen source like ESN at planting.
ESN®, Environmentally Smart Nitrogen is a
polymer coated urea prill that slows the release of
nitrogen, thereby reducing potential for loss due to
leaching or denitrification. The cost of ESN adds about
$0.23 per lb of N to the cost of urea. ESN can be used to
replace part of the nitrogen supplied from other sources;
thereby providing both a readily available and slow
release N source that is more economical than straight
ESN.
ESN is reported in tight supply this spring, so growers are
advised to contact their dealer early. In talking to one
dealer, they reported that a secondary benefit of ESN is
improved fertilizer flow ability. Adding some ESN in
with some other fertilizers improves the flow ability in
certain applications like air-fertilizer carts.
Ontario Canola Growers Association
April 2015 Newsletter
Canola price per tonne2
Table 1
$400
Nitrogen Cost
$/lb N1
$440
$480
$520
$560
Most Economic Nitrogen Rate (MERN) lb N/ac
0.55
85
88
90
92
94
0.60
82
85
88
90
92
0.65
79
82
85
88
90
0.70
76
80
83
86
88
0.75
73
77
80
83
86
0.80
70
75
78
81
84
1. Nitrogen is cost per pound actual N. Example: In 1 tonne of urea (45% N)
there is 992 lb N and if urea cost is $615/t; the cost of N is $0.62/lb N.
2. Based on Ontario nitrogen rate trials on hybrid canola from 2001 to 2003.
Table 2
Canola Nitrogen rate trials 2010 to 2012 - 21 total sites
2010-2012 Canola Nitrogen Rate Response1
Nitrogen
Rate
lb/ac
Average
Yield1
lb/ac
80
1989
120
2184
160
2247
Yield Increase
vs 80 lb N/ac
%>
$ return/
acre vs
80 lb/ac
N rate2
% Dollar
wins vs
80 lb
N/ac3
198
9.8%
$19.00
57%
258
12.9%
$8.93
48%
lb/ac
1. Results are average of 21 trials; 6, 7, & 8 conducted in 2010-2012
respectively.
2. Dollar return per acre vs 80 lb N/ac rate is increase or decrease in
returns at 120 or 160 lb N/ac using nitrogen cost of $0.62 /lb N (urea=
$615/t) and canola price of $500/tonne.
3. % Dollar wins is % of trials from 2010 to 2012 in which returns were
improved with either 120 or 160 lb N/ac vs 80 lb N/ac.
Table 3
Comparison – Nitrogen Cost/acre based on 120 lb N/ac rate
Program
Nitrogen
Treatment
N rate & timing
Cost/ac
Total
Cost/ac
1-3
Ammonium
sulphate @
100 lb/ac
21 lb N/ac
$22.00
$22.00
1
Urea (46-0-0)
Pre-plant incorporated
100 lb N/ac
$61.00
$61.00
2
Urea:ESN
blend (75:25)
Urea (46-0-0)
ESN (44-0-0)
Preplant incorp.
70 lb N/ac as urea
30 lb N/acre as ESN
120 lb N/ac total
$42.70
$26.30
$69.56
3
Split
Application
Urea (46-0-0)
UAN (28-0-0)
70 lb N/ac Pre-plant
30 lb N/ac Post
emergent
120 lb N/ac total
$42.70
$18.30 +
$10.00
UAN
$71.00
This table compares nitrogen cost for treatments mentioned above.
Note for each of the programs listed, 100 lbs/acre of ammonium
sulphate (21-0-0-24) would be applied in addition to other nitrogen sources
applied pre-plant application to supply 24 lb/ac sulphur.
April 2015 Newsletter
Split N Application – Split applying N has
gained a lot of traction with corn producers
and some canola growers. Delaying part of the
N application can reduce the risk of N loss and
crop deficiency, improve profitability by
improving nitrogen use efficiency and benefit
the environment. It also allows the grower to
assess their crop before committing to
applying the full allotment of nitrogen. One
strategy that is being used is to pre-plant apply
the amount of nitrogen that might suffice in
most years (e.g. 80-90 lb N/ac). Then when
the canola reaches the 3-5 leaf stage, reassess
the stand and yield potential, adjust for spring
weather related potential N losses and apply
up to an additional 40 lb N/ac.
Growers contemplating split applying nitrogen
should have most/all of the nitrogen applied
before the 5– 6 leaf stage (rosette) when
canola enters its rapid growth stage and the
demand for nitrogen is greatest. Canola
producers in Western Canada that are split
applying nitrogen are using either dry or liquid
nitrogen sources. If using a dry nitrogen
source, either ammonium nitrate, ammonium
sulphate or urea can be used. Agrotain®
(NBPT) should be used with urea in top
dressed applications to reduce volatilization
losses and applied below crop residue. If
applying a liquid N source like UAN or
ammonium thiosulphate, use a streamer bar at
the correct height to minimize directing
nitrogen onto the canola growing point.
Applying in the evening, under cloud, heavy
dew or prior to a rain will also help minimize
the risk of leaf burn. Split nitrogen may be
uneconomical because of extra cost of
application, damage to the standing crop or
missing the correct timing due to weather.
Wait until the crop has sufficient leaf area (i.e.
3-4 leaves) before applying to minimize leaf
burn damage.
Summary: In extremely wet springs and with
major rain events in May and June, some loss
of nitrogen occurs in canola fields. It s
important to understand the risk of nitrogen
loss from your fields to help in deciding on the
value of ‘stabilized’ nitrogen products or split
nitrogen application. On coarse textured soils,
leaching of nitrate nitrogen is the biggest
concern. Fine textured soils hold on to water
tightly limiting downward movement and
denitrification plays a larger role in potential
nitrogen loss. Denitrification occurs when
soils become waterlogged for 2-3 days so that
nitrogen is converted to nitrogen gas and lost
to the atmosphere.
Ontario Canola Growers Association
Page 5
The Canola Council of Canada has produced a
video that describes the key factors involved in
establishing a strong canola stand. Growers share
their experiences in a question and answer format.
Growers share:
 What seeding rates they use and why.
 What speed they plant at.
 How often they check drill performance for
depth and evenness.
The video is posted on the OCGA website at:
www.ontariocanolagrowers.ca.
A canola crop that emerges evenly
with seven to ten plants
per square foot
is better able to
compete with pests,
mature more evenly and provide a
better return on your investment.
Spray Weeds Early
For Higher Yields!
Trials have shown a
10% yield improvement by
spraying at 1 to 2 leaf stage
versus the 5 + leaf stage.
Concentrate on controlling
weeds that emerge
with the canola,
and less on weeds
that come up
after the 4 to 6 leaf stage.
Page 6
Ontario Canola Growers Association
April 2015 Newsletter
Calculating Canola Seeding Rates
CANOLA SEEDING RATE (lb/ac)
Establishment is the greatest
challenge in growing canola,
because it is sown shallow
where soil is most
subject to rapid drying.
1000
Seed
Weight
gm
Seeding rates and plant counts
are critical because of wide
differences in seed size with
newer varieties and seeding by
pounds per acre can really throw
off the actual plant stand count.
An error in seeding can be a
costly mistake.
Seeding rates need to be based
on the 1000 kernel seed weight
(grams per thousand seeds).
Begin with the desired final plant
stand. In canola the optimum
plant stand is 7 to10 healthy
plants/sq foot (5 plants/ft2 is
minimum). In 7.5 inch rows this
is equivalent to 4.5 to 6 plants
per foot of row.
Target seeding rates need to
account for large differences in
seed size between varieties and
seed lots. Under good seeding
conditions a 75% emergence
rate is reasonable, but under
average conditions a 60%
emergence rate is a reasonable
reference point to calculate
seeding rates.
Target Seeding Rate
lb/acre
75%
Emergence
60%
Emergence
6.7 seeds
per foot of row
8.2 seeds
per foot of row
2.5
2.6
3.0
Grams of Seed per opener
per 100 feet (30.5 m)
of travel (7.5 inch rows)
75%
Emergence
60%
Emergence
3.1
1.7
2.0
3.1
3.8
2.0
2.5
3.5
3.6
4.4
2.3
2.9
4.0
4.1
5.0
2.7
3.3
4.5
4.6
5.6
3.0
3.7
5.0
5.1
6.3
3.3
4.1
5.5
5.7
6.9
3.7
4.5
6.0
6.2
7.5
4.0
4.9
6.5
6.7
8.2
4.4
5.3
Note: Use 75% emergence rate under good/optimum seeding conditions.
60% emergence is based on 90% germination and 32% seed mortality
when seeding under less ideal conditions including soils prone to
crusting, very early seeding ,or poor depth control.
These seeding rates are based on final plant population of 8 plants/ft 2 .
Remember these key points when seeding...
 Calibrate seeding equipment before heading to the field! Bulking of seed with MAP (11-52-0), pelletized sulphur or
corn cob grits are options for improving seeding rate accuracy. Seeding through the grass seed box is another
option, with the seed tubes inserted into the disc openers.
 Check fluted cup opening across the drill. Watch for excessive grinding of seed in seed cup, especially under low
humidity conditions.
 Speed kills. Even emergence is more important than plant spacing. Drill bounce is more of a problem at speeds over
5.0 mph. Trials have shown that compared to 5.0 mph, a speed of 5.5 mph required an extra 1.5 lb/ac seed to
achieve the same plant population.
 Ideal target seeding date is when soil temperatures are 50 C or higher, but let soil conditions and 5-7 day weather
forecast guide you on when to seed.
 Seed 1/2" to 1” deep into a firm and slightly cloddy seedbed, keeping moisture near the surface. Deeper seeding
reduces emergence and vigour, decreases seedling and root growth, and increased risk of crusting issues. Packing
before and after planting has given the best results in a dry year. Be aware that packing following planting covers
over the seed furrow, and can place seed deeper than intended. If moisture is more than five cm (2 inches) deep, it
is advisable to wait for moisture. Avoid having the seed start to germinate and run out of moisture.
April 2015 Newsletter
Ontario Canola Growers Association
Page 7
The Canola Challenge 2015 – Six Chances to Win!
Can YOU bring in the winning yield?
Ontario growers are bringing in amazing yields.
The Canola Challenge recognizes their accomplishments.
And then they share their winning management practices.
A Win – Win for all!
1st place winner – $2,000 cash
2nd place winner – $1,000 cash
3rd place winner – $ 750 cash
4th, 5th and 6th place winners – $500 cash
Winners will also receive a
“Canola Challenge Winner” jacket.
INTENT TO PARTICIPATE
How Do You Enter
and
What are the Rules?
Fax or email information below by July 17, 2015
1. Complete “Intent to Participate” and
submit by July 17, 2015.
Grower Name ____________________________________
2. Work with a supporting agronomist.
3. Minimum 10 acre canola plot.
4. Record your yield from 1 acre of
your field which must be recorded by
weigh wagon and verified by your
supporting agronomist.
5. Record your crop management and
yield information and submit to
OCGA by Nov 2, 2015.
6. Entry must be for one individual
grower (one jacket per entry).
2015 CANOLA CHALLENGE
Grower Phone ___________________________________
Grower Email Address _____________________________
Supporting Agronomist _____________________________
Agronomist's Company _____________________________
Phone: 519-986-3519
Fax: 519-986-3811
Email: [email protected]
Box 106, Markdale, ON N0C 1H0
Canola Challenge Sponsors