Below are some pictures of a canola field in Blaine County that we sprayed for rescue grass, cheat, rye grass and other evasive weeds. We applied roundup at 22 oz/a, with AMS (Ammonium Sulfate) at 1 bg/300 gallons of water. So can see the difference in the two pictures and how the roundup is helping clean the rows of any unwanted grasses. This is an excellent example of crop rotation and cleaning fields for higher yield goals.

November 25, 2009

Plains Partners, in conjunction with the OSU Extension Service  has applied Quadrius Fungicide to canola east of Hennessey today. The canola disease Blackleg has shown up. Heath Saunders of the Enid Extension Service Office called Tuesday, November 24, requesting that we spray the canola since the disease is here and can cause severe damage to the crop. There is little to no information available on the diseases in winter canola in this area since canola  is relatively new to Oklahoma. Most of the information we have is in regard to spring canola in the northern states. The test plots are on the Ray Bullis farm east of Hennessey . Mark Broyles and Heath Sanders along with the Plains Partners staff will monitor the plots. Earl Marshall, long time spray truck operator and Certified Crop Consultant, applied the chemical. More plots will be applied in the spring to further study the problem. This year has had  the best conditions for fungus. The wet weather and mild temperatures have been ideal. These are also ideal for Rust, etc. in wheat, so you may want to be alert to that.

This is new to our area and  canola producers need to check their fields to determine if it is present. The leaves will have holes in them and begin to die back along the edge of this hole. It looks like insect damage holes, but is where the disease has destroyed the leaf. The entire leaf will yellow and die. In the spring the fungus will migrate to the stems and cause black lesions. The fungus spores can blow up to five miles and rain splatters them. If you have the Canola Production Tips produced by the Canola Council of Canada you can get more information.  This disease may or may not be a problem In the spring since the leaves will die very soon. It will depend on the spring growing conditions. These plots are to gain more knowledge and provide you with  information.

Please feel free to call your Plains Partners Staff for information or to check your fields.

 Paul Campbell