Alberta Canola Hosts Grower Season Ready Meeting in Vegreville

Alberta Canola Hosts Grower Season Ready Meeting in Vegreville

Michelle Pinon - News Advertiser

On March 30 about 30 local producers gathered at Vegreville Suites for some coffee, donuts and canola Growing Season Ready meeting hosted by Alberta Canola Region 4 Director and Two Hills area farmer Jeannette Andrashewski.

Andrashewski welcomed everyone and said by way of introduction, “I’m a fourth generation farmer from my parents side and third on my husband’s side.” She explained that she and her husband came into the family farm business when her husband’s parents decided to retire. They farm with their son and said, “We are happy and we’re proud to be doing it.

So, I got encouraged to get onto this position. I want like to thank all of you for allowing me the opportunity to be your canola director. I am humbled. I want you to know I’ll be here to listen and to help you find the answers to your questions and to provide you opportunities like this growers’ engagement meeting where you can ask questions, hear, learn more to better your farm and to make it more profitable.”

Andrashewski acknowledged former Region 4 Director John Mayko for supporting her in her new role. She introduced special guest speakers covered everything from research and funding to practical information on stand establishment, canola diseases and insect pests during the engagement session. Speakers included: Brittany Visscher,

Research Director of Alberta Canola, Clinton Jurke, Agronomy Director of the Canola Council of Canada, and Keith Gabert, Agronomy Specialist of the Canola Council of Canada.

Jeannette Andrashewski.

(Michelle Pinon/Photo)

Visscher outlined the research goals and results along with funding sources. “We heavily rely on funding partners and want you to understand where the money is going and it benefits you.” While research is getting more expensive, Visscher said they leverage that through the different funding partners.

Between 2023 and 2028 they plan to complete 24 research projects. Visscher said the research goals are to find the best ways to grow canola, find solutions to pest management and increase demand for canola.

The core areas of funding since 2012 include: agronomy, disease, insects, genetics, new products, new uses, canola cluster projects, wetland water monitoring and living labs. Visscher said disease is one of the largest areas for funding of projects involving Blackleg and Clubroot.

Clinton Jurke said he has worked with the council since 2009 and said one of the secrets of success is to rally around specific targets. He pointed out that in 1970 the target was 20 bushels per acre and that increased to just under 40 bushels per acre in 2022. “I think we can get to 52 bushels by 2025.”

Jeannette Andrashewski addresses the crowd.

(Alberta Canola/Submitted Photo)

According to Stats Can:

YIELD

• Alberta produced 5.6 million tonnes of canola in 2022, while wheat is 11.3 million tonnes

• Alberta harvested 6.5 million acres of canola in 2022, while wheat is 7.4 million acres

VALUE

• Farm Cash receipts in Alberta for Canola totalled $13.7 billion in 2022

• Farm Cash receipts for Wheat (excluding durum) in Alberta totaled $9.2 billion in 2022

Clinton Jurke.

(Michelle Pinon/Photo)

Brittany Visscher.

(Michelle Pinon/Photo)

The secrets to achieving 52 bushels per acre are: harvest management, integrated pest management, fertility management, plant establishment and genetic improvements.

And while weather is still the biggest factor, Jurke said there is a need for improvement in fertility. He also pointed out that the need for crushed canola is going to continue to rise with three new plants coming on stream in Saskatchewan.

It is expected that between 20 and 22 million bushels will be needed for that, and he is confident there will be enough domestic supply for crush. He said the demand for renewable fuels is high south of the border and there are new crush plants in North and South Dakota.

Keith Gabert spoke on integrated pest management and plant establishment and had recommendations regarding active scouting and aggressive management when it comes to flea beetles, cutworm, diamond black moths, lagus bugs, etc. Farmers also have to contend with diseases like sclerotina and clubroot. A relatively new disease is verticillium stripe that was first detected in Manitoba. While the percentage of affected crops remains relatively low so far, the situation will continue to be monitored.