While research continues to show that farmers can successfully straight combine canola, less-than-ideal conditions may hinder growers this fall.
A well-knit crop and even establishment are important factors when straight combining to reduce shattering losses, which can also increase with weed growth and disease.
The Canola Council of Canada recommends swathing over direct harvesting in immature fields with an increased risk of frost, something which could be on producers’ minds in many Western Canadian regions with delayed maturity due to a cool, wet growing season.
Read Also
Agri-business and farms front and centre for Alberta’s Open Farm Days
Open Farm Days continues to enjoy success in its 14th year running, as Alberta farms and agri-businesses were showcased to increase awareness on how food gets to the dinner plate.
“… There’s certainly a lot of variability out in the fields. In my opinion, the best way to manage a variable stand is to swath. It makes me a little bit nervous to try and even out a crop with (a desiccant like) Reglone,” said Angela Brackenreed, agronomy specialist with the CCC in Manitoba.
“In a year when there’s a lot of variability, which may be the case this year, straight cutting might not be your best option.”
Producers straight combining can assess fields just prior to ideal swath timing, said Brackenreed.
Most farmers will swath at around 60 percent seed colour change.
“In our own farm experience, we’ve seen very few days difference between when we pick up the swath and when we straight cut when we’re looking at a field that’s split in half,” said Brackenreed.
Researchers have had success straight combining canola, finding few issues with increased seed losses and even improved yields compared to swathed canola crops. A paper published earlier this year in the Canadian Journal of Plant Science states clearly in its title, “On-farm seed loss does not differ between windrowed and direct-harvested Canola.”
“It seems academically, I would say, that you shouldn’t expect any more (seed losses),” said Steve Shirtliffe of the University of Saskatchewan’s college of agriculture and bioresources, who contributed to the paper. “If I was a producer and I had 2,000 acres of canola out there, I would think I wouldn’t leave it all to straight cut.”
The study is based on surveys of 16 straight combined and 19 swathed canola fields over three years, ending in 2012.
The researchers observed seed losses in both methods, but found they performed comparably. The study finds straight combining to be a viable option for producers, but cautions that mature canola stands can fall victim to strong winds.
“Of course there is going to be some risk associated with it … but I think if it’s done properly you can probably get away with it,” said Shirtliffe. “… A producer, if they’re going to do it, they should take time to develop their agronomic system.”
Producers can employ newer combine headers and select canola varieties like L140P and 45H32, which have been evaluated for shattering performance.
In 2013 trials, however, officials at the Indian Head Agricultural Research Foundation found a variety of hybrid varieties could be straight combined successfully under ideal conditions —minimal disease pressure and good weather — like those experienced ahead of last year’s record harvest
IHARF officials also successfully straight combined canola after delaying harvest beyond the ideal timing. In its annual report, however, IHARF attributes this to the high yield potential and good conditions. It recommends producers straight combine canola once the crop has reached maturity — 10 to 12 percent seed moisture and less than two percent green seed.
