The national Optimising Canola Profitability Project funded by GRDC, NSW DPI and CSIRO is wrapping up, with results to be presented at the annual BCG Trials Review Day on 15 February 2019.
Starting in 2014 the project included four years of trials conducted by BCG in the Wimmera.
BCG Senior Manager Innovation and Business Development, Cameron Taylor, explained the national trials aimed to provide producers with a framework to ensure canola can be a profitable component of their business.
“Having a set of guides to how to best use canola in your system can assist in reducing risk but also secure the benefits canola offer as a highly productive and profitable crop,” said Mr Taylor.
“As the system has changed with the strict summer weed control methods now implemented and the increase in summer/early autumn rain, there are increased opportunities to sow canola early.”
The trial investigated the ability for an earlier sowing window, effective nitrogen use aligned to the season and understanding the optimum start of flowering date to provide a guide on best management.
“There was a need for up-to-date information as new vigorous hybrid varieties with their different herbicide tolerances were released,” says Mr Taylor.
Understanding the phenology of each variety gives growers the confidence to better managing their variety’s sowing dates to align with the optimal start of flowering date.
“Given the need to minimise stress related to heat, frost, drought and disease, optimal start of flowering dates provides a guide on best practice.”
“Optimal start of flowering is recorded when 50 per cent of plants have one open flower,” explained Mr Taylor.
Mr Taylor said he was looking forward to presenting the result at the upcoming BCG Trials Review Day.
“Trials Review Day is one of the best days of the year because it provides a great opportunity to showcase and present to farmers all the work we have done. The interaction with producers and their enthusiasm in the work we do makes it all worthwhile.”
The BCG Trials Review Day is a members-only event. Lunch, refreshments and a copy of the 2018 BCG Season Research Results compendium are provided. Non-BCG members can purchase memberships prior to, or on the day.
For more information about the BCG Trials Review Day visit the website at www.bcg.org.au or phone the office on (03) 5492 2787.
This article was published in the Stock and Land, 24 January 2019.
