Canola goes on-line
A canola information data base is up and running across Canada. Canola is the first crop to have a database developed for it on the Farm Business Management Information network.
The development of the Canola Information Centre, which began in February, is being supervised by Phil Thomas, oilseed specialist with Alberta Agriculture. It is funded by the Canola Council of Canada, Alberta Canola Producers Commission and the Saskatchewan Canola Development Commission.
The initial information in the database includes the Canola Growers Manual, newsletters from canola organizations and descriptions of crop protection products registered for use in canola.
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About 4,000 abstracts of canola-related research are the next items to be added to the database. Thomas foresees variety yield performance data, results from Canola Production Centre trials, graphics for weed, insect and disease identification and general information on canola and its products also being added.
Thomas expects it will take up to two years to enter available information about canola onto the FBMInet. As the database is expanded, new information will first appear on the FBMInet node in Lacombe, Alta., and then will be sent to the other nodes in the system.
There are 13 FBMInet nodes in Canada. Users can dial any node, but the closer the node is to their location, the lower the long-distance charges, where applicable. Some provinces have toll-free access lines.
Start-up kits are available for FBMInet which include a manual and communication software to help use the system.
For more information on how to access FBMInet, contact your closest pro-vincial government agricultural office or the FBMInet national co-ordinator David Thacker, at 403-340-3822.
– Canola Digest
