Lyla Lindsey
Canola is a profitable crop in most regions of Victoria, Australia, and is also grown in Western Australia. It is a success story in Australia, with the country being widely regarded for its high-quality exports and significant international markets for its canola exports. However, the future production systems of canola in Australia will need to adapt to the changing climate, particularly in grain-growing regions. This guide will explore the key factors to consider when planning or managing a canola crop in Australia, including agronomy, rotation, variety selection, seeding, and managing infestations and diseases.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Area | In 2019/20, Victoria was the second-highest canola-producing state after Western Australia. |
| Production | Australia produces 1.9 to 2.7 million tonnes of canola grain each year. |
| Exports | The EU, Japan, China, Pakistan and the UAE are important markets for Australian canola exports. |
| Uses | Canola is exported for international food and biofuel usage. |
| Rotation | Grow canola in rotation with other crop species and do not grow successive canola crops in the same paddock. |
| Variety | Choose a variety with sufficient blackleg resistance for your region. |
| Fertiliser | Nitrogen fertiliser is the single biggest cost to canola growers. |
| Seeding | A high proportion of canola crops are dry seeded. |
| Costs | The financial risk of growing canola is higher than other crops due to high input costs, particularly the seed and fertiliser. |
| Profitability | Canola is a profitable cropping option for most cropping regions of Victoria. |
| Future | New breeding approaches such as herbicide-tolerant varieties and genetically modified canola crops are already widely grown in Australia. |
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What You'll Learn
Crop rotation and paddock management
When growing canola in Australia, it is important to consider crop rotation and paddock management. Firstly, it is recommended to grow canola in rotation with other crop species and avoid successive canola crops in the same paddock. This brings diversity to cropping rotations and can reduce the financial risk associated with growing canola.
The area sown for canola should be determined based on demand and prices in relation to other crop choices. Factors such as the timing of the autumn break and moisture levels in the subsoil in low and medium rainfall zones also play a role in deciding the area for canola cultivation. Australia's canola growers are open to new technology, and the adoption of dual-purpose canola has increased profitability and resilience in some grain production regions.
Nitrogen fertiliser is a significant cost for canola growers. To reduce financial risk, it is advisable to apply most of the nitrogen fertiliser later in the season, before stem elongation, rather than all before sowing. Additionally, the timing of seeding is crucial. Delayed seeding can impact yield, and with earlier sowing becoming more common, canola crops may be exposed to challenging conditions with warm temperatures and drying soil.
Canola crops in Australia are also susceptible to infestations of turnip aphids, cabbage aphids, and green peach aphids, which can cause significant damage. Active monitoring of canola crops for diseases and aphids throughout the growing season is essential to allow for the timely implementation of management strategies. While fungicides can be used, they should not be the sole reliance, and a mix of strategies is recommended to minimise yield loss.
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Seed and fertiliser costs
The financial risk of growing canola can be higher than other crops due to high input costs, especially seeds and fertilisers. Nitrogen fertiliser is the single biggest cost to canola growers. By applying most of the nitrogen fertiliser later in the season, but before stem elongation, rather than all before sowing, farmers can reduce some of the financial risk of growing canola.
Lowering seeding rates can also reduce costs, but it is critical that target plant densities are achieved. A high proportion of canola crops are dry seeded due to the yield impact of delayed seeding and the availability of effective post-emergence herbicide options. If furrow fill occurs following dry seeding, plant emergence and plant density can be reduced as a result of plants being unable to emerge from too deep. Unless there has been an early break to the season, delaying seeding is likely to result in a yield penalty.
Fungicides can be used to complement other management strategies but cannot be relied on alone. Options include dressing of seeds, treatment of fertiliser and foliar fungicides. All commercially sold seeds come with a fungicide seed dressing, however, if retained seed is being sown, it is important to ensure a fungicide seed dressing is applied. Management of the fungal disease blackleg is an important consideration for canola growers. Utilising a mix of strategies is the best way to minimise loss of yield due to the disease.
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Pest and disease management
One of the most significant diseases affecting canola in Australia is blackleg, caused by the fungus Leptosphaeria maculans. Blackleg is prevalent in higher rainfall regions, but it can also occur in lower rainfall areas during unseasonably wet periods. The disease infects canola crops during the flowering stage, and infected plants can be identified by light brown discoloured patches on stems, branches, and pods, which later turn greyish-white. Management strategies for blackleg include utilising resistant varieties, adopting appropriate crop rotation practices, and applying fungicides.
Another fungal disease, Sclerotinia stem rot, poses a significant threat to canola crops, particularly in rainy conditions during flowering. To manage Sclerotinia, growers should inspect seeds before sowing to ensure they are free of sclerotia, adopt a 3 to 4-year break between canola crops, control broad-leaf weeds, and avoid sowing in paddocks previously affected by the disease.
Canola crops in Australia are also susceptible to infestations of turnip aphids, cabbage aphids, and green peach aphids, which can reach damaging levels. To manage aphid infestations, growers can consider integrating beneficial insects, such as aphid parasitoid wasps, into their pest management practices. These natural enemies of pests can help reduce or even eliminate the reliance on pesticides. Additionally, growers should actively monitor their crops throughout the growing season to detect any pest or disease pressure and implement timely management options.
Alternaria is another disease affecting canola, caused by the fungal pathogen Alternaria brassicae or, occasionally, Alternaria brassicicola. This disease thrives in warm and humid conditions during spring. To manage Alternaria, growers should focus on controlling cruciferous weeds, as they can harbour the pathogen, and be mindful that canola cultivars are generally more resistant to Alternaria brassicicola.
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Harvesting methods
Harvesting canola in Australia is a complex process with many variables to consider. Here is a step-by-step guide on harvesting methods for canola in Australia:
Windrowing: Windrowing is a common practice in canola harvesting, especially in Victoria, Australia. It involves cutting and drying the crop in a windrow (a long row of cut crop) before combining. This method allows for better control over the timing of harvest and can improve the yield and quality of the crop. Many growers with large areas of canola crops invest in their own windrowing machines, while others hire contractors to perform this task.
Direct Heading: Direct heading, or direct combining, is another method used in canola harvesting. This process involves combining the crop without prior windrowing. Direct heading can reduce costs associated with harvesting, but it may not be suitable for all situations. The decision to use direct heading depends on various factors, including crop size, moisture content, and the availability of specialised harvesters.
Harvest Timing: The timing of canola harvest is critical and depends on several factors. One key consideration is the moisture content of the seeds. Canola seeds typically need to be at a moisture level of 8-9% for safe storage. Harvesting too early or late can impact seed quality and yield. Another factor influencing harvest timing is the weather. Ideal harvest conditions include a period of dry, sunny weather to facilitate even crop ripening and allow for efficient combining.
Disease Management: Active monitoring of canola crops for diseases and pests is crucial throughout the growing season. Diseases like blackleg and sclerotinia stem rot can significantly impact yield and crop quality. Monitoring allows for early detection and the implementation of management strategies, such as fungicide applications. It is also important to ensure that seeds are treated with a fungicide dressing, especially when using retained seeds for sowing.
Crop Rotation: Growing canola in rotation with other crop species is essential for disease management and soil health. Successive canola crops in the same paddock should be avoided to reduce the risk of disease carryover and to improve soil nutrient management.
Harvesting Equipment: The type of harvesting equipment used depends on the scale of the crop and the chosen harvesting method (windrowing or direct heading). For windrowing, specialised windrowing machines or adapted harvesters with a special front attachment may be utilised. Direct heading requires a harvester capable of combining the crop directly without prior windrowing.
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Climate change adaptations
Australia's canola growers are open to adopting new technology, germplasm, and management practices to adapt to the changing climate. The frequency of hotter and drier weather is expected to increase in many grain-growing regions, and future market diversification and product differentiation will be necessary to maintain the crop's value for Australian farmers.
One adaptation strategy is to sow canola earlier in the season to improve yield potential. However, this strategy requires specific adaptations to ensure successful establishment in drier and warmer soils, such as the use of hybrid canola when sowing deeper than 1cm. Early sowing systems also require crop development patterns (phenology) that maintain an optimal flowering date under changing climatic conditions.
Another strategy to adapt to climate change is to adopt dual-purpose canola, which has substantially increased farm profitability and resilience in some of Australia's grain production regions. Dual-purpose canola provides forage for livestock during autumn and winter, after which the livestock is removed, and the crop is harvested for grain.
To maximise the chance of a profitable canola crop, researchers have identified the optimal flowering window across Australia's canola-growing regions. By modelling the optimal time to sow for any variety in a given part of Australia, growers can achieve flowering during the optimal window while minimising climatic risks such as frost, heat, and drought.
Finally, canola growers can adapt to climate change by actively monitoring their crops for diseases throughout the growing season. This allows for the timely implementation of management options, such as the use of fungicides and crop rotation. Additionally, nitrogen fertiliser management can be a crucial adaptation strategy, as nitrogen is the single biggest cost to canola growers. By applying most of the nitrogen fertiliser later in the season, but before stem elongation, growers can reduce the financial risk associated with growing canola.
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Frequently asked questions
The financial risk of growing canola is higher than other crops due to high input costs, especially for the seed and nitrogen fertiliser. Growers should also actively monitor canola crops for diseases and infestations of turnip aphids, cabbage aphids, and green peach aphids.
Farmers can reduce costs by lowering seeding rates and delaying seeding unless there has been an early break to the season. Applying most of the nitrogen fertiliser later in the season, but before stem elongation, can also reduce financial risk.
To adapt to the changing climate, Australia's canola production systems will need to incorporate new technology, germplasm, and management practices. New breeding approaches such as herbicide-tolerant and genetically modified canola crops are already widely grown in Australia. Diversification of markets and products will also be necessary to maintain the overall value of canola for Australian farmers.
