AC Navigator Wins Seed of the Year West

Mar 14, 2018

Twenty years after being registered AC Navigator Durum is still popular among Prairie farmers.

Navigator was recently selected as the 2017-18 Seed of the Year West Winner.

It was developed by Dr. John Clarke and his team at what is now Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Swift Current Research & Development Centre.

Jeff Jackson is the Product Line Manager for Cereals with CPS and says Navigator still draws a premium price for the grower.

"Depending on the season and the growing conditions and the region your growing Navigator in the yield is still very strong, the harvestability is still very strong," he said. "That package of the ease of growing, the good yield and the price premium has made it a popular one with growers."

Source : Steinbachonline

Video: Sclerotinia and Lygus in Seed Canola: Field Update with George Lubberts, CCA | Enchant, Alberta

Join Certified Crop Advisor George Lubberts for this Prairie Certified Crop Advisor (Prairie CCA) field update from Enchant, Alberta. In this 12th video of the series, George takes us into a seed canola field where the male rows have been removed and the female plants are filling pods. This video was taken in the third week of August 2025.

George discusses the early signs of sclerotinia stem rot, explaining how infection begins in the stem, impacts pod development, and leads to premature ripening. He also shares insights on lygus bug management, including timing of spray applications to minimize feeding damage and maintain seed size and quality.

With cool, damp summer conditions, George notes that while disease pressure is present, overall field health remains good. The crop is just beginning to show early seed colour change, signaling progress toward maturity.

Topics Covered:

•Sclerotinia stem rot identification and impact

•Managing lygus bugs in seed canola

•Crop stage and seed colour change observations

•Timing insecticide sprays for optimal protection

•Insights from a CCA field perspective in southern Alberta