OMAFRA releases Canola Seasonal Summary

Quality and yield acceptable throughout Ontario

By Diego Flammini
Assistant Editor, North American Content
Farms.com

OMAFRA released its Canola Seasonal Summary to give producers a general idea of how canola crops fared in Ontario this year.

The number of insured canola acres were about 30,000 in 2016, compared to 25,000 last year.

Depending on where farmers were located, the weather dictated their planting schedule.

“In the southern half of Ontario a majority of the acres were planted in the last week of April and first week of May,” OMAFRA said. “Spring conditions in northeastern Ontario were not much different than further south, so planting was relatively early in Temiskaming and Nipissing. Towards Cochrane, wet weather pushed planting back into June.”

When it came to insects and diseases, OMAFRA said there was a limited amount of spraying for flea beetle in 2016 and that seed treatments were effective in protecting plants.

Other pests discovered in canola crops required more attention.

“By the 1^st of June, swede midge had been detected in Wellington, Renfrew and Grey counties, and had reached threshold numbers in New Liskeard.”

Cabbage seedpod weevil was identified at threshold levels in Bruce and Grey counties and some fields were sprayed, according to OMAFRA.

OMAFRA reports canola yields were “good for the most part.” The average yield, based on the number of insured acres, is lower this year at 2,095 lb/ac, compared to 2,341 lb/ac in 2015.