Canola

As published in 2007, canola is grown on 5.26 million hectares (approximately 13 million acres) in Canada. Saskatchewan leads in canola production with 43% of the national production, followed by Alberta at 35% and Manitoba at 21%. The remaining production occurs in British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec. Total national production stands at 8.485 million tonnes ( Statistics Canada).

On-Going Canola Strategy

Health Canada (HC) and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's (AAFC) Pesticide Risk Reduction Program identified canola as a priority crop. General canola production information and issues along with pest issues are documented in the Crop Profile for Canola in Canada. A canola issues document, extracted from the crop profile, was used as a discussion tool in canola stakeholder meetings and consultations to help identify the top insect, disease and weed issues. General issues of concern and potential solutions to these issues are also discussed at these meetings. AAC's Pest Management Centre prepared both documents in consultation with the canola industry, the Pesticide Risk Reduction Program's Technical Working Group and the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA).

Canola Stakeholder Meetings and Consultations

Canola Integrated Pest Management / Risk Reduction Meeting

The Canola Council of Canada hosted a workshop on integrated pest management (IPM) and risk reduction on November 8, 2004. The Canola Council of Canada's IPM initiative was reviewed and the new federal risk reduction initiative was presented. The Pest Management Centre's canola profile was presented and the key issues were reviewed in breakout sessions-IPM, insect management, disease management and weed management.

Canola Risk Reduction Meetings

The Canola Council of Canada hosted a risk reduction stakeholder committee meeting in Winnipeg, Manitoba, on November 10, 2005. The Pesticide Risk Reduction Program was presented and the risk reduction issues discussed at the 2004 meeting were prioritized. The formation of a steering committee was agreed upon.

Canola Risk Reduction Project Discussion

On August 9, 2006, members of the Canola Council of Canada, the Pest Management Centre, and the PMRA met to review issues and discuss the path forward for the following priority issues for canola:

• Insect Monitoring and Prediction (Prairie-wide insect monitoring network for flea beetle, diamond back moth and bertha armyworm),
• Cross-Commodity Sclerotinia Initiative (canola, sunflower, pulses, soybean),
• Insect and Disease Threshold and Monitoring
• Genetic Resistance

Crop Production Issues Team Meeting

Hosted by the Canola Council of Canada in Regina, Saskatchewan, on November 8, 2006, the Crop Production Issues Team provided updates and overviews of priority canola issues, canola risk reduction projects and research.

Research Funded Under the Pesticide Risk Reduction Program

The Pesticide Risk Reduction Program has funded several projects addressing the priorities the Canola Working Group established in consultation with the Pest Management Centre and the PMRA.

Projects Funded to Date

• Assessing potential non-target risks of biological control agents used in IPM against cabbage seedpod weevil, Ceutorhynchus obstrictus (Project Code: PRR03-370)
• Developing remote sensing tools to map weeds in pulse and canola crops, enable site-specific herbicide application (Project Code: PRR03-550)
• Development of Biopesticides for Management of Wireworms and Root Maggots in Potatoes and Canola (Project Code: MU03-270)
• Effects of Late Season Flea Beetle Feeding on Canola Yields (Project Code: PRR06-110)
• Cabbage maggot management and research around the world: a status report and development for IPM strategies for Canada (Project Code: PRR06-690)
• Crop Health Initiative: Increasing Farmer/Agronomist Adoption and Utilization of Pest Management Strategies and Tools (Project Code: PRR06-790)
• Development of reduced-risk strategies through coordinated monitoring, forecasting and risk warning systems for insect pests of field crops in Canada (Project Code: PRR07-060)

For further updates, please visit Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.