Despite temperatures that dipped to -6 C in early June, canola growers in western Manitoba will not need to re-seed crops this spring, said a Canola Council of Canada agronomist.
“The last three days I have scouted (fields) from Brandon all the way north to that Strathclair, Shoal Lake and the Russell area, and nobody is going to reseed,” Kristen Phillips, reported while driving her car through the area this morning.
On June 2-3, the temperature dropped to -2 C at multiple locations in Manitoba. The heaviest frost occurred north of Brandon, around Strathclair, where observers recorded temperatures of -6 C.
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“There definitely was frost damage. The cotyledons are burnt off, but the growing point and hypocotyl (stem) are still intact,” she said. “Every producer I have talked to is going to leave their field (as is).”
The frost killed a significant number of canola plants, but in most cases a sufficient number of plants remain viable, Phillips said.
“As long as you have that two or three plants per sq. foot, you’re better to leave it than to reseed.”
Anastasia Kubinec, Manitoba Agriculture oilseed specialist, said new leaves are forming on most canola fields, which indicates the frost wasn’t as severe as anticipated.
“There will (probably) be a few fields they may have to reseed but I don’t think it’s as many as we first thought.”
After scouting canola for several days, Phillips said the frost damage varies from field to field based crop stage, duration of the frost and the amount of stubble on the field.
“Areas that had significant stubble or trash on the field, those fields (were) actually hit harder than fields that were more black.”
Looking ahead, growers that suffered frost damage should vigilantly scout their fields, Phillips noted. If flea beetles are feeding on the weakened canola plants, growers may have to spray to prevent further damage.
“Now that the plant has lost (its) cotyledons, we’re concerned the insecticide (seed treatment) won’t last as long. So flea beetle pressure is another stress on that plant.”