Agronomy • 2026-02-13

Tips for Growing High Yielding Canola

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Key Points

A plant population of 5-8 plants/ft² balances economics and reduces risks from pests, weeds, and uneven maturity.
Select hybrids with strong disease resistance, appropriate maturity for your region, and enhanced pod shatter performance where straight cut harvesting is a possibility.
In a comprehensive crop rotation, it is recommended to alternate between herbicide systems to manage herbicide resistant weeds as well as volunteer canola.

Aiming for 60 bu/acre

Achieving a 60 bu/acre canola crop is an ambitious but attainable goal for Canadian growers committed to best management practices.
Success depends on making informed decisions at every stage—from hybrid selection and fertility planning to pest management and harvest timing.
By combining strong genetics with precise agronomy and careful record keeping, you can maximize canola yield potential and profitability.
The following guidelines outline key steps and considerations to help you achieve top-end canola yields and profitability on your farm.

1. Plant Population and Seeding Practices

Target 5-8 plants per square foot for optimal yield potential. This range balances economics and reduces risks from pests, weeds, and uneven maturity. Lower populations (<5 plants/ft²) make crops vulnerable to stress and delay maturity.
Uniform emergence is critical. Ensure proper seeding depth (½-1 inch), consistent seed placement, and aim for ~4 mph seeding speed to ensure adequate furrow closure and seed/soil contact.
Avoid canola-on-canola stubble; yields may drop significantly (~10-20% yield difference¹) when seeded into canola stubble versus cereal stubble.

2. Hybrid Selection and Traits

Select hybrids with strong disease resistance (blackleg, clubroot, sclerotinia, verticillium), appropriate maturity for your region, and enhanced pod shatter performance where straight cut harvesting is a possibility.
Pioneer’s Pod Shatter Premium Technology brings confidence to straight-cut harvesting, enables harvest management decision flexibility and superior yield potential.

Pioneer’s internal trials showcase high yielding hybrid options for broad Western Canada adaptation, complemented by early/mid/late maturity options and disease protection against blackleg, clubroot, sclerotinia, and verticillium stripe.
Pioneer hybrids support a multi-hybrid strategy to mitigate risk and optimize yield and profitability across Western Canada.²

3. Nutrient Management

Canola is a high-value crop with significant nutrient demands, particularly nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and sulfur.
Applying the 4R principles—Right Source, Right Rate, Right Time, and Right Place—ensures nutrients are used efficiently, supporting optimal yield and oil quality while minimizing environmental impact.
Proper nutrient management reduces losses to air and water, improves soil health, and maximizes return on investment.
Table 1 shows the recommended canola fertilizer guidelines.
Micronutrients are equally important to the success of a high producing crop and should be factored into fertility recommendations.
Adjustments based on soil test results and other factors such as nutrient placement/timing/source/method, should always be factored into a successful fertility program.
Consult with your local agronomist or fertilizer supplier on a soil testing plan and nutrient recommendations for your farm.

Table 1. Canola nutrient uptake targets for a 60 bu/acre crop.⁴

4. Pest and Disease Management

Western Canadian canola crops may experience flea beetle, sclerotinia, blackleg, and verticillium stripe infections on a yearly basis.
Clubroot, as well as insects such as cutworms, diamondback moth, and others may also cause yield reductions if present.
Use disease resistant hybrids and seed treatments as part of an effective management plan. Consider a 1 in 3- or 4-year canola crop rotation to increase yield and profitability expectations for all phases of the crop rotation.⁵
Manage volunteer canola aggressively; it hosts diseases and competes for nutrients.
Harvest losses can add ~1.3 bu/acre of seed to the seedbank, persisting for years.⁶ Ensure effective harvest management practices are followed (e.g., combine settings, harvest timing, etc.). In a comprehensive crop rotation it is recommended to alternate between herbicide systems.

5. Harvest Timing and Method

Swathing at 60-70% (or later) seed colour change optimizes yield and quality if crop staging is uneven or frost risk is high. It is a preferred harvest management method to even out harvest risk during a challenging fall.
Pioneer field-scale trials show that canola swaths can be harvest ready as much as 6-7 days sooner than straight cut in the same field.
Straight-cutting canola at ~10% seed moisture often delivers efficiency in manpower and equipment costs but comes with risk associated with challenging environmental conditions that could result in pod shatter and/or drop, thereby reducing overall yield and profitability.
Factor in the cost of desiccation when comparing straight-cut vs swathing on your farm. Avoid harvest delays beyond 90% SCC or 10% seed moisture content to minimize shatter losses.

6. Environmental and Management Factors

Include both Optimum® GLY and LibertyLink® traited canola on your farm as an effective way to manage herbicide resistant weeds as well as volunteer canola.
Maximize soil moisture retention through residue management and reduced tillage.
Manage weeds early to reduce yield robbing competition.
Consider a multi-hybrid approach for disease-prone or early-maturity zones.

Sources

¹https://www.canolacouncil.org/canola-encyclopedia/field-characteristics/crop-rotation/

²https://www.pioneer.com/ca-en/product-catalog/crop-canola.html

³https://www.canolacouncil.org/canola-encyclopedia/4r-nutrient-stewardship-practices/

⁴https://www.canolacouncil.org/canola-watch/fundamentals/how-much-fertilizer-does-canola-need/

⁵https://cdnsciencepub.com/doi/full/10.1139/cjps-2017-0292

⁶https://canadianagronomist.ca/canola-harvest-losses-can-be-high/