Volunteers the snag in Canadian canola
Volunteers the snag in Canadian canola
CLIFF Rees has been growing genetically modified canola (oilseed rape) at Rees Farms, Russell, Manitoba since he moved there from the UK in 1997. He is pleased with the results, but frustrated by problems controlling volunteers.
His move to Manitoba followed two seasons working there in 1995 and 1996. The farming is not easy, but there are opportunities and farming is central to the economy so enjoys strong public support.
The 1066ha (2630 acres) all-arable farm is spread over five miles of predominantly black silt loam over yellow clay. Crop rotation is wheat, peas, wheat, then canola – all spring sown.
The severe continental climate allows a 100-day growing season with winter temperatures dropping to -30C (-22F) and 2m (6-7ft) of frost. Rainfall is 300-380mm (12-15in), half falling as snow.
Typical yield is 2.2t/ha (0.9t/acre) and price in October was Can$7/bu (£128/t), grower-delivered to elevator.
Mr Rees has two GM canola options open to him – Roundup Ready from Monsanto or SMART from Cyanamid, the latter tolerating two key Canadian herbicides Odyssey (imazamox + imazethapyr) and Pursuit (imazethapyr).
Roundup Ready canola has not been grown due to Monsantos area-based technology charge, which works out at about £29-35/ha (£12-14/acre).
But the SMART system canola has done better than conventional, non-GM Canola in terms of cost control, ease of management and cleanliness of the following seed-bed, Mr Rees reckons.
However, SMART volunteers are appearing in peas two years later. That is a problem because the peas are usually treated with Odyssey. Rotating canola crops between SMART system and Roundup Ready should help in future, Mr Rees says.
He is keen to continue growing canola, provided prices do not dip any lower and sees a logical place for GM lines, unless the market decides otherwise.
A two-pass minimal cultivation approach is used, first with a tined cultivator with a liquid anhydrous nitrogen applicator kit, then a cultivator air seeder.
All canola is swathed pre-harvest, the stubble being left long – 0.6m (2ft) – to allow a following roller on the swather to push the swath down into the stubble to prevent wind damage.
This season was late so all the wheat and canola was swathed so that if it snowed the crop could withstand the cold and be harvested the following spring.
The only deterioration would be due to vermin damage, the very dry winter avoiding moisture damage.
Harvesting is with pick-up reels on combines, with a work rate of up to 65ha (160 acres) a machine a day, giving a daily output of over 130ha (320 acres).
Like most Manitoba growers Rees Farms has no drier. Current discussion centres on whether a third combine should be purchased to improve timeliness of harvest or a drier installed to allow harvest at higher moisture contents.
FARM FACTS
• Labour: Cliff Rees, plus David Rees (father) during seeding and harvest plus part time driver.
• Machinery: 2 x Case IH axial flow combines with 7.6 + 9.1m (25 + 36ft) headers. 1 x 9.1m (30ft) Case IH swather
2 x 300hp International artic tractors (20-years-old)
12m (40ft) tined cultivator
13.7m (45ft) cultivator air seeder
12 furrow conventional on-land plough.
• All spraying done by contractors.
FARM FACTS
• Labour: Cliff Rees, plus David Rees (father) during seeding and harvest plus part time driver.
• Machinery: 2 x Case IH axial flow combines with 7.6 + 9.1m (25 + 36ft) headers. 1 x 9.1m (30ft) Case IH swather
2 x 300hp International artic tractors (20-years-old)
12m (40ft) tined cultivator
13.7m (45ft) cultivator air seeder
12 furrow conventional on-land plough.
• All spraying done by contractors.