Canola Setbacks & Solutions

Friday, February 21, 2025

‘Growing in The Prairies is a Blessing & a Curse.’

By Mary Loggan

The 2024 growing season on the Prairies was difficult for many canola producers, as unpredictable weather patterns severely impacted crop development. Despite a promising start in the spring, extreme heat and a lack of rainfall during key growth stages in the summer created stress on the crop. Prolonged periods of high temperatures and insufficient soil moisture resulted in reduced yields, smaller seed sizes, and challenges during the critical pollination and pod development phases.

As farmers reflect on these challenging conditions, strategies for improving canola production in 2025 are becoming increasingly important.

Better Farming recently spoke with Prairie canola experts to analyze the 2024 crop and explore how producers can plan for the upcoming year.

Growing conditions

Matt Gosling, a Certified Crop Advisor (CCA) at PremiumAg in Strathmore, Alta. points to how the 2024 weather shifts affected canola growth across the Prairies.

He notes that canola is a cool-season crop that thrives in wetter conditions, preferring high elevations and nights below 15 C. However, temperatures above 27 to 28 C can cause stress, particularly during reproduction, the most yield-influential phase of the plant’s life cycle.

“Through 2024, we had 19 days above 27 C, nine of which were above 30 C, and 12 nights above 15 C,” says Gosling.

“Soil moisture heading into 2024 was as low as we’ve measured in over a decade. Even though we had ideal conditions through May and June with 150 mm of precipitation, we only had 12 mm of rain very early in July, and that was it.”

Despite having enough soil moisture to partly mitigate the heat stress until mid-July, Gosling says the crop eventually hit a wall.

“Insect pressure was relatively low with more cutworm issues than flea beetles, but the late-season lack of rainfall negatively impacted bushel weight and seed size in most crops,” he adds.

Garth Donald, CCA and agronomy manager at Decisive Farming by TELUS Agriculture in Irricana, Alta., points to the extreme temperatures from July 5 to 14 as a significant factor in reduced yields.

“From Edmonton south to the U.S. border, the biggest influence on reduced yield in 2024 was the extreme temperatures during this period,” he says.

“From Calgary north, the average temperature was 33 C with zero precipitation, and south of Calgary, it reached 37 C with zero precipitation.”

This extended extreme heat hampered pollination and pod development, negatively affecting crop quality and yields. Donald emphasizes that the impact on crop productivity was particularly significant during this window.

Travis Wiens, CCA at Annex Agro in Milestone, Sask., describes the season as “a tale of two seasons wrapped into one.”

He recalls that conditions were nearly perfect from April 15 to July 6.

“The weather was moist, and canola had a fantastic start. We were free from spring frosts, and canola grew fast enough to stay ahead of flea beetles,” he explains.

However, this ideal weather was short-lived.

“July 6 marked our last significant moisture event, and the tap turned off. That was coupled with high daytime temperatures. While it cooled off at night, it wasn’t enough to keep canola from suffering.”

Wiens also points out that the abundant moisture in May and June left the canola with shallow roots, making it more susceptible to heat and drought stress later in the season.

“This resulted in a heat blast of flowers, pods with missing seeds, and small seeds at harvest,” he adds.

Tips for growers

As farmers prepare for the 2025 growing season, Gosling offers some valuable insights on managing the challenges of canola in the Prairie climate.

“Growing in the Prairies is a blessing and a curse,” he says.

“The curse is our very short growing season and unpredictable weather, which makes in-season fertility management complex.

“The blessing is that our short growing season is interrupted by five to six months of freezing weather, giving farmers a break from pests, diseases, and weeds.

“Managing risk is the name of the game.”

Gosling notes that many farmers base their yield goals on water-driven yields using the 30-year average rainfall.

“If your area has an eight-inch average rainfall, you should be able to grow six bushels per inch of water. Stored soil water can be added to this equation,” he explains.

“Seeding early can help ‘beat the heat,’ but it comes with the risk of early-season frost and insect pressures, which have been severe in recent years.”

Gosling also stresses the importance of picking seed for standability and says proper nutrition improves short- and long-term canola production. However, he warns that abiotic stress, particularly in hot Julys, has hurt yield potential in recent years.

Wiens agrees that producers should prioritize good seed selection for the coming year.

“Choose hybrids with strong disease packages, consider a multiple hybrid strategy, and even source hybrids from different companies to access a variety of disease resistance backgrounds.

“We’re seeing diseases like blackleg becoming more prevalent as growers narrow their hybrid selections over time, especially in tight rotations.”

Wiens emphasizes the importance of a robust fertility program.

“The temptation may be to cut back, but producers should get a soil test and see what their field needs. We strongly encourage growers to use variable-rate fertilizer and seed prescriptions to maximize returns in different areas within fields,” he says. “And don’t discount potassium – canola requires more K than N nearly every day of its life.”

Wiens also stresses the importance of staying ahead of weeds, particularly during the critical early growth stages.

“Keep your fields clean,” he advises. “We’re seeing more resistant weeds, like Group 9-resistant kochia and Group 1-resistant wild oats. Make sure to add something to glyphosate in that burn-off.”

Donald recommends considering staggered seeding dates for the 2025 season.

“In 2024, the fields that had average to above-average yields were seeded later,” he notes. “Growers may want to look at staggering their seeding dates to potentially improve yields next year.”

Market outlook

While the challenges of 2024 may have affected yields, Gosling remains cautiously optimistic about the future.

“I’m not a grain marketer, but pencilling canola on a balance sheet isn’t very attractive with higher input costs and average-to-low production lately,” he says.

“That said, one positive thing for all crops is stored soil moisture. This is likely the best soil moisture we’ve had since 2016, which was one of the biggest crops in the Prairies.”

Although canola acres face downward pressure, Gosling points out that the crop remains a critical break crop in rotations, and acreage is likely to stay above 20 million acres.

“There is much support for domestic canola as there are crushing plants coming online in Canada, which means we’ll be less reliant on export markets,” he adds.

Donald highlights the political factors that can also influence canola prices.

“If we can mend our relationship with China and they reduce the tariffs on Canadian canola, it could boost commodity prices,” he says.

“However, if the relationship remains strained, the tariffs may persist, and if the U.S. and Brazil have another strong soybean year, it could decrease canola returns.”

Wiens advises producers to approach marketing with care.

“Margins will be tighter in 2025, and some growers are debating whether to plant as many acres of canola as they have in previous years.

“The markets at or near the time of seeding will drive decisions,” he says. “I encourage farmers to lock in some profit when the market allows. Small, incremental sales are more likely to be profitable than waiting for a ‘home run’ sale.”

Wiens recommends surrounding oneself with trusted advisors to make informed decisions.

“Don’t get caught up in the rhetoric of the coffee shop and social media. Seek a team that can help remove the emotion from marketing.

“With careful planning, producers can navigate the difficulties and stay competitive in 2025.” BF