Results are in for the 2015 Canola Performance Trials (CPT). Data from the science-based, third-party variety evaluations have been uploaded to the online comparison tool at www.canolaperformancetrials.ca. A summary booklet is also available for download at the site.
The online tool includes interactive maps and the ability to refine searches by season zone, herbicide tolerance (HT) system, yield, days to maturity, lodging and height. The tool also has results from each of the past five years, which allows for important comparison across different growing conditions.
鈥淏y structuring the trials with replicated small plot trials and numerous sites for field scale trials, as well as strict adherence to protocols and statistical analysis, CPTs provide growers with a fair third-party assessment of variety performance,鈥� says Nicole Philp, CCC agronomy specialist and CPT co-lead. 鈥淕rowers want this type of information when making variety decisions, which is why CPT results are such an important resource for them.鈥�
The three Prairie canola grower groups 鈥攖he Alberta Canola Producers Commission, the Saskatchewan Canola Development Commission (SaskCanola) and the Manitoba Canola Growers Association 鈥� provide funding for the CPT program. The B.C. Grain Producers Association conducted trials in the Peace as their means of participation. The Canola Council of Canada delivers the CPT program.
Line companies, independent retailers and seed companies, including Bayer CropScience, BrettYoung, Canterra Seeds, Cargill, CPS Canada/Proven Seed, DL Seeds and Syngenta participated in the 2015 trials.
Haplotech, led by Dr. Rale Gjuric, coordinated the trials under the guidance of a governance committee that oversees approval of varieties, protocol design, data collection, analysis and reporting, and financial management.
The CPT program includes both small plot and large field scale trials. Results for 2015 are based on 29 small plot trials and 33 field scale trials across the Prairies. In addition, to add more value to the CPTs, a pilot project was conducted this year in which varieties were both swathed and straight cut at the same locations for comparison.
The Canola Council of Canada is a full value chain organization representing canola growers, processors, life science companies and exporters. Keep it Coming 2025 is the strategic plan to ensure the canola industry鈥檚 continued growth, demand, stability and success 鈥撀� achieving 52 bushels per acre to meet global market demand of 26 million metric tonnes by the year 2025.
