Effect of Seeding Date on Canola Yields as Reported by Farmers

One of the farm's most important inputs is information. Farmers weigh a large number of variables in deciding what, how and when to plant.

Alberta Management Insights (AMI Information) crop variety and yield information is published by AFSC, in co-operation with Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development, as an on-line service that allows you to find information based on your legal land description.

This series shows Argentine canola (Brassica napus) yield data from the main soil zones and the effect of seeding date on stubble. Overall, this data shows that canola benefits from early seeding in Alberta in most years. Early seeding is an example of a good management practice that improves yield without extra cost! However, time constraints prevent many farmers from seeding all their crops early. Thus, producers must choose which crops to seed first. The yield data from the right soil zone will help producers decide what is the most profitable crop planting sequence in their situation.

The information in the attached charts shows average seeding pattern and yield from 9 years of data (2002-2011, excluding 2005). The weekly frequency of seeding is shown and producers can see the "normal" date as well as how many manage to seed early. Management and environmental influences have not been standardized in the data, so caution is advised when interpreting the graphs.

Argentine Canola Seeding Date Patterns	Effect of Seeding Date on Argentine Canola Yield
Black Soil Zone Black-Dark Gray East Soil Zone Black-Dark Gray West Soil Zone Dark Brown Soil Zone - on Stubble Thin Black Soil Zone - on Stubble Peace River Region	Black Soil Zone Black-Dark Gray East Soil Zone Black-Dark Gray West Soil Zone Dark Brown Soil Zone - on Stubble Thin Black Soil Zone - on Stubble Peace River Region Effect of Seeding Date on Polish Canola (Summary from 1999-2001) Thin Black Zone Peace River Region

Note: 1999-2001 summaries are available on-line for your review.

To use this seeding date and yield information most effectively in planning a crop planting sequence, producers should consider the following factors.

1.	Is there an initial time period where yield does not fall? Try not to read too much precision into the weekly differences (for example, 2 or 3 bu/acre difference is often not meaningful). Remember that each end of the curves have the least precision since they are based on the least number of records. Thus large changes at the ends of a curve should be disregarded unless a good explanation can be given.
2.	What is the yield loss (bu/acre per week) after any initial plateau?
3.	Are higher value grades being pursued with certain crops? For example, edible peas versus feed, malt barley versus feed. Early seeding will be helpful to achieve the higher grades in addition to higher yields.
4.	Is the planned seeding date compatible with the crop maturity requirements and the local growing season (average days before killing fall frost)?
5.	Considering both yield loss and expected price for the grades being pursued, compare the revenue losses per week. Crops that lose the most revenue per week are the strongest candidates for early seeding.

Alberta Management Insights is the result of a government partnership. Agriculture Financial Services Corporation (AFSC) is the "manager" of the information and the lead on the project, and Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development (AARD) is an integral partner in the development and delivery of the AMI information.

Effect of Seeding Date on Canola Yields as Reported by Farmers

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