EARLY SOWN
CANOLA
RISK AND REWARD OF VERY EARLY SOWN CANOLA
Commence date
April 2022
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Completion date
February 2025
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Aim
This project aims to support grower decision making when presented with early sowing canola opportunities giving consideration to soil moisture, time of sowing and varietal choice. Through the implementation of a small plot demonstration accompanied by three grower case studies, growers in the region will build their confidence to weigh up the risks and rewards of ‘going early’ to capitalise on early rainfall events.
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Funding Provider
GRDC
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Lead Project Organisation
The Liebe Group
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Project Background
The past few seasons have provided early seeding opportunities, particularly in 2021 and 2022 off the back of tropical weather systems. In response, Liebe growers have sought to investigate the risks and rewards of sowing canola earlier in the season. Those who have taken these early opportunities have observed phenological variances with the earlier sowing conditions, as indicated by variety phenology work done by NSW DPI (NSW DPI, 2021). Liebe growers have also identified a gap in experimental data, particularly on the consequences of sowing canola in the region before mid-April. While previous research conducted by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development in Mullewa and Wongan Hills in 2019 and 2020 showed no yield penalty for seeding in March, further investigation was required to understand the specific implications for the Liebe region.
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In 2022 and 2023 the Liebe Group has developed locally relevant small plot trials that have investigated six different Round Up Ready canola varieties seeded at start of April and again at the start of May. In 2024, another trial has been implemented that has pushed the sowing date earlier to Mid March, to see if we can answer how early is too early. See links below for the 2022 and 2023 trial reports.
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2023 Trial Report - Jibberding
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