CANOLA
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From the Brassica family which includes cabbages, broccoli and turnips, canola's striking yellow flowers make it one of the most recognisable winter crops.
Canola is a profitable cropping option and fits well into many crop rotations. The key for growers is having canola flower late enough to minimise frost impact, and early enough to avoid temperature and moisture stress.
As with all crops, Kidman Aviation understands that we are a spoke in the wheel that produces your yield. Listed below are some of the identified applications we can provide for nutrition, disease, pests and harvest aid.
NUTRIENTS
Compared to most grain crops, canola has an elevated requirement of both macro and micro nutrients to achieve high yields. Kidman Aviation works with growers and agronomists to provide nutrients through foliar fertilising and top-dressing, throughout the season.
Nitrogen
Essential for growth and the formation of plant compounds, nitrogen increases leaf duration, flowering branches and flowers, seed pods and overall yield. Kidman Aviation can top-dress Nitrogen as the plant becomes deficient. Typically applied as Urea or Ammonium Sulfate, top-dressing has its greatest impact when applied to moist soil or is followed by rain.
Sulphur
Sulphur is essential in the formation of chlorophyll and the synthesis of protein and oils, and deficiencies can cause a reduction in oil concentration and seed loss of up to 80%. Kidman Aviation can top-dress Sulphur throughout the canola lifecycle, as deficiencies can occur as early as 21 days after sowing. Sulphur is typically applied as Gypsum or Sulfate of Ammonia.
DESSICATION
Canola crops with varied states of maturity, or fields contaminated with weeds (particularly broadleaf weeds and grasses), often require desiccation to dry out any green material in preparation for harvest. This can be achieved through the killing of any weeds in the field with Glyphosate or reducing moisture content with Reglone. As varied crop maturity and weed control needs become more prominent within NSW, Kidman Aviation works with growers and agronomists to ensure even coverage and penetration of the crop when dessicating.
Canola can be infected by diseases causing root-rot, leaf disease, stem infections and crown infections. Disease likelihood and severity are dependent on weather conditions and plant susceptibility. Kidman Aviation understands that timeliness in application is paramount, and we work with growers and agronomists to apply fungicides that help to reduce disease pressure.
DISEASES
Blackleg
Caused by fungus, Blackleg is one of the most prominent canola diseases in Australia, and its severity has risen with the increase in canola cropping and production. Blackleg survives in canola stubble, and its occurrence greatly increases if canola is planted within 500 meters of the previous year's stubble.
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We work with our clients to spray fungicides that reduce disease severity and yield loss. Aerial spraying, coupled with stubble management, has shown to be a successful method to help decrease the following year's Blackleg pressure.
Sclerotinia
Sclerotinia survives in the soil or can be present in seed. Its occurrence increases dramatically if canola is planted in high rainfall areas, low lying areas or the disease has been present in the preceding 3 years. Spores can travel for several kilometers, causing crop infection and subsequent yield loss over a large area.
Kidman Aviation works with clients and their agronomists to apply foliar fungicides at various times throughout the lifecycle, or as a routine spray to assist in eradicating the disease long-term if substantial disease pressure is felt.
We understand that, as with all crops, unless thresholds are reached it it may not be considered economical to control the pest with spraying. Kidman Aviation works with growers and agronomists to understand the application target, any susceptible beneficials and the chemistry being applied.
PESTS
Red Legged and
Blue Oat Mites
Earth Mites can cause significant and severe crop loss, during establishment and from flowering through to maturity. We work with our clients to provide aerial spraying for these pests, generally between flowering and podding stages.
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Systemic insecticide reduces egg populations, and the ideal treatment window in NSW is Spring.
Aphids
Aphids have their highest plant impact during flowering and podding stages. Moisture stressed plants provide favourable conditions for Aphids, and they have a high risk for disease transmission.
Controlling Aphids can require area-wide management of host plants, and we work with our clients in the application of insecticides, often timing these applications to coincide with specific plant infestation thresholds as specified by the agronomist.