Canola and heat

[ado089]

Usually there are times of the day when the temp get low enough for viable pollen to be produced for most flowers. But yes if it was to stay above 28-29 would be no seeds/pods.

[SASKFARMER3]

V your digging a hole with any one who is dry! Plus 28 with wind and dry the plant is going to have blanks! Fact!

[vvalk]

Sask3. Thanks for the comment. Never said there wouldn't be blanks just that there is podding going on during this heat. as you know I farm in southern Alberta where it's hotter then anywhere else on the prairies. What hole am I digging?

[Rareearth]

The good news is:
- This is wonderful for the advancing of the crop that was late seeded. There is now a chance that it will mature before fall frosts.

-Also they will benefit the most and now have the best chance for average or above average yields

[bucket]

What if it doesn't rain?

[Ronski]

So when you say mature you mean die? Yes I can see it happening.
Does anybody have pictures and the technical savvy to post them? (I dont)

[freewheat]

In the absence of soil moisture, yes flowers can blast at 30 or so. But if there is enough soil moisture, the pollen simply sheds faster and the bloom period, though shorter, will not affect yield. In 02 and 03, we had intense July heat, but awesome crops, because the soil had awesome reserves. I personally have never ever seen flower blast in this area. part of it is we are cooler to begin with, the other part is that dry soil is so rare.

I do not discount flower blast at high heat and low soil moisture. But if the moisture is there, the plants generally do fine. The pollen does not automatically go sterile at high temps until it is REALLY hot. 28 is not hot enough with moisture. Only when it is dry as well as hot.

[bucket]

I think 28 and 25 percent humidity would qualify.

But what is trying to bolt here looks like shit. The canola can not be utilizing the fertilizer or sub soil moisture because it looks horrible.

[hobbyfrmr]

I forgot about fertilizer having detrimental effects on a crop when it gets really dry. I was conventional farming in 2002 but recall the organic farmers west of me had wheat that out yeilded everyone for a 20 mile radius. They sold it for $12.00/bushel. I thought for sure they were lying about the prices. Thats only one year though, farming is long term.