Canola seed

[Sodbuster]

Seed companies have known for 3 months that they would be short of seed, I would think that they would be scrambling to seed more somewhere between Mexico and and South America. Canola seed production only takes 4-5 months, that gives them time to ship it here and treat, would be a tight schedule but it’s possible. Where else can you sell $800 a bushel canola.

[makar]

Probably more selling by the kernel.

[seedsman]

I grow canola seed for 2 companies so hopefully can answer a few of the questions that were asked. All the seed production in AB is irrigated. Our yields this year ranged from about 60% of average to average for the 5 fields we had. Most of the problems were due to poor pollination in the heat. Sometimes there would be stalk with 15 empty pods in a row, and then a few pods with 5-10 seeds and then another string of empty ones. Yields were lower than company agronomists were expecting.

There is always some seed produced in Chile. However, it is difficult to increase production on short notice. Fields need to be free of volunteer canola and have a mile of isolation from other canola. Parent seed needs to be shipped from Canada in August (before they really knew how low the yields were going to be). Seed is usually planted in September and October and harvested in February. Then the seed needs to be tested for hybridity, cleaned, and shipped back to Canada. It usually all arrives here in time for seeding in May.

It would be impossible for a seed company to suddenly start seed production in a totally new area.

[furrowtickler]

I grow canola seed for 2 companies so hopefully can answer a few of the questions that were asked. All the seed production in AB is irrigated. Our yields this year ranged from about 60% of average to average for the 5 fields we had. Most of the problems were due to poor pollination in the heat. Sometimes there would be stalk with 15 empty pods in a row, and then a few pods with 5-10 seeds and then another string of empty ones. Yields were lower than company agronomists were expecting.

There is always some seed produced in Chile. However, it is difficult to increase production on short notice. Fields need to be free of volunteer canola and have a mile of isolation from other canola. Parent seed needs to be shipped from Canada in August (before they really knew how low the yields were going to be). Seed is usually planted in September and October and harvested in February. Then the seed needs to be tested for hybridity, cleaned, and shipped back to Canada. It usually all arrives here in time for seeding in May.

It would be impossible for a seed company to suddenly start seed production in a totally new area.

Very well answered , pollination was poor and Chile production was ramped up by those that could and who seen the issues early enough