Key Strategies for Managing Spring Canola

If spring canola is part of your production plan this season, now is the time to finalize your management strategy. Focusing on the right genetics, planting strategies, weed control and fertility programs can help ensure a successful crop. Here are a few key tips to consider as we head into the new season.

Seed Choice Matters

Choosing the right hybrid is the foundation of a successful canola crop. Many canola varieties have been developed to fill the market needs of Canada’s vast acreage, but as you know, U.S. growers have unique challenges. CROPLAN® canola seed is specifically selected for the agronomic conditions growers in U.S. canola-growing regions face. Trial locations across key canola-growing states help us select varieties with high disease resistance and yield potential, ensuring long-term success, particularly in challenging environments.
 

Planting Strategies for Optimal Establishment

Take steps to establish a strong canola crop by waiting for favorable planting conditions and protecting seed from early-season stresses. Here are a few planting strategies to keep top of mind:

•    Ideal soil temperature for planting canola is 50°F, though some growers push for 40°F to maximize the growing season. Cooler planting conditions call for extra seed protection with premium seed treatments.
•    Risk of frost damage increases with earlier planting, so careful monitoring of weather forecasts is crucial.
•    Target a planting population of 10 plants per square foot for an optimal stand of five to eight live plants per square foot.
•    Seeding depth should be 0.5 to 1 inch, ensuring good seed-to-soil contact for uniform emergence.

Seed Treatments for Early Season Protection

Canola growers often face challenging planting conditions, making seed treatments critical for a strong start. CROPLAN canola hybrids are pre-treated with a premium seed treatment package that includes: 

•    Helix® Vibrance®: Four fungicides plus an insecticide active ingredient to guard against pythium and Rhizoctonia in cold, wet soils
•    Lumiderm™: Provides insect protection, particularly against flea beetles

We’re using the WinField® United Answer Plot® program to study how growers can improve early-season outcomes in canola with enhanced seed treatment options. More details and guidance will be coming as we continue this research.  
 

Weed Management Strategies

As with any crop, effective weed control is essential for minimizing competition and maximizing canola yield potential. Ultimately, the most effective weed management program will depend on your crop rotation and weed spectrum. Here are a few effective weed management options for canola growers:

•    CROPLAN TruFlex® canola is glyphosate-tolerant; it offers a wide application window and high glyphosate application rate, delivering more flexibility for late-stage weed control. You can apply glyphosate up to first flower, which could add 10 to 14 extra spray days. CROPLAN TruFlex canola is an excellent fit for acres with predominantly grassy weeds. It is more suitable for western regions where glyphosate-based weed control is effective.

•    CROPLAN LibertyLink® canola is glufosinate-tolerant and gives growers a great option for managing hard-to-control broadleaf weeds like glyphosate-resistant kochia and marestail. CROPLAN LibertyLink canola hybrids may be preferred in the Dakotas due to the presence of diverse weed pressures and hard-to-manage weeds.

•    Additional post-emergent options can provide extra protection and should be considered in fields with high weed pressure. Clopyralid in the tank mix can help control persistent broadleaf weeds such as dandelion and Canadian thistle, which may be harder to manage with glyphosate or glufosinate.
 

Diseases to Watch For

Canola diseases can threaten yield and quality potential, so be aware of hybrid disease ratings as you choose seed. Here are a few common diseases to be aware of:

•    Blackleg and clubroot are becoming more common in U.S. canola acres, so choosing hybrids with high resistance is important if you’ve had a history of these diseases. 
•    At bloom, white mold (sclerotinia) is a disease to anticipate, especially in humid, high-yield environments. It is easily managed with a fungicide application at bloom. 
•    Verticillium wilt is another canola disease to monitor. It is an emerging threat that can’t be managed with foliar fungicide applications, although more resistant canola varieties are on the horizon to help with management. 
 

Fertility Management for High Yield Potential

Canola requires significant nutrient inputs, particularly nitrogen and sulfur. However, not every hybrid responds the same to fertilizer applications. CROPLAN canola hybrids are rated for their response-to-nitrogen (RTN) and response-to-sulfur (RTS) to help you optimize fertilizer applications for maximum potential efficiency. Here are some general recommendations for nitrogen and sulfur management: 

•    Apply 2.5 to 3 pounds of nitrogen per bushel of yield target, depending on the hybrid. 
•    Apply 0.2 pounds of sulfur per bushel of yield target, with a baseline of 25 to 35 pounds per acre of sulfate sulfur.
 

Harvest Considerations

Today, a majority of North American canola acres are straight-cut, making harvest losses a concern for most growers. Modern shatter-resistant canola varieties have improved harvest flexibility compared to older genetics that were generally swath-harvested. 

All CROPLAN canola hybrids undergo vigorous shatter testing at designated sites across North Dakota. Hybrids labeled SC (Straight Cut) or SC+ (Straight Cut Plus) have been vetted as shatter-tolerant and offer growers extra flexibility and protection at harvest. Selecting an SC or SC+ CROPLAN canola hybrid helps ensure better pod integrity and reduces the potential for harvest losses. 
 

Make the Most of Management Decisions

Spring canola's success depends on careful seed selection, precise planting, effective weed and disease control, and proper fertility management. Here are a few tips for maximizing profitability this season:

•    Choose high-performing, region-specific genetics.
•    Optimize nitrogen and sulfur rates based on response-to scores and expected yield.
•    Invest in premium seed treatments for early-season protection.
•    Apply herbicides and fungicides strategically to protect yield potential.

Contact your local agronomic advisor or CROPLAN retailer for more spring canola management recommendations. 

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© 2025 WinField United. Important: Before use always read and follow label instructions. Crop performance is dependent on several factors many of which are beyond the control of WinField United, including without limitation, soil type, pest pressures, agronomic practices and weather conditions. Growers are encouraged to consider data from multiple locations, over multiple years and to be mindful of how such agronomic conditions could impact results. Answer Plot, CROPLAN and WinField are trademarks of WinField United. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.</sup></sub>