An Agriculture Canada researcher wants to know why only 30 percent of canola seeds emerge when test results show 95 percent germination.
Yantai Gan hopes to find the answer in farmers’ fields.
“The number of viable plants is very low.”
Gan plans to send a master’s student into fields to measure seeding depth, count plants and talk to farmers about their equipment, land and seeding practices.
He is now looking for farmers to join the study.
Read Also
New fertilizer product aims to reduce tie-up, improve soil health
A new phosphorus fertilizer, launched at Ag in Motion 2025, promises to reduce nutrient tie-up and deliver slow-release feeding throughout the growing season.
“Let’s do some farmgate learning.”
Gan estimates that a 10 percent increase in emergence to 40 to 45 percent from 30 to 35 percent will save canola producers $40 million in seed costs.
“It’s quite a significant economic impact associated with low seeding establishment with canola,” said Gan, who works at Agriculture Canada’s research centre near Swift Current, Sask.
In the first part of the study, the student will visit each field to measure seed depth and count the number of plants that emerged.
Later in the summer, farmers will be asked about the type of seeding equipment used, openers, history of the land, previous crops, seed sources, seed treatments, trash cover at seeding and rainfall.
The information will be analyzed and a production model developed to look for clues on how to improve canola emergence.
“We need to learn from each other,” said Gan, who already has a few theories about why some canola stands have poor emergence.
He believes the operator is the most influential factor in seed emergence. He also believes the type of drill, opener and packer all play a role.
He hopes a clearer picture will emerge by studying a wide range of farmers and their seeding practices. The results will be shared with the participants and later other farmers.
“The whole purpose of the project is not going to change producer inputs, but the production practices.”
To volunteer for the study, contact Gan at 306-778-7246.
