How green should you cut Canola?

[freewheat]

If frost is imminent, cutting at 0% seed color change may lose you 10% of yield. I found this in my old canola growers manual from the 90's. As long as the seeds are firm, and do not roll, they should be good to go. A bit of shrink for the yield loss.

They also found that time of swathing DID NOT affect green seed content, but heat after cutting, and frost was what fixed the chlorophyl in the seed. Back in those days they made recommendations for real life. They studied real life situations.

Now they act like a Trudeau when an election is called. Or better yet, KIm campbell. Now is not the time to discuss the issue, guys!

[freewheat]

Should say DO ROLL, DO NOT SQUISH!!!

[farmaholic]

I think it was 04 here. We had canola that was close to cutting and we never did before the frost. What happened is it basically desiccated it, shelling was an issue and we weren't about to leave it for straight cutting. We generally don't have this problem to deal with so I have limited experience. Otherwise, normally we like to wait till we see alot of colour change in the seeds, I think you end up with a nicer sample(black plump seeds versus orange/red shrunken stuff).

There has been alot of good advice in the posts to make a decision with.

[sumdumguy]

I am on last field of cutting Canola, green or not, 3 nights of frost predicted this week, now will start rounding up Durum.

We started combining spring wheat, straight cutting, testing 16.9. Decision made to keep the combine in the field late tonight, which we usually don't like to do, but forecast is bad and there already is some sprouting in the head. The sample is not nearly as nice as last year, but the
yield is right up there. I will report when last hrsw truck is unloaded. Good luck all - hope Mother Nature takes a liking to us all.

[ado089]

I have a rule. If it's September don't look just swath.