Key take-aways include:

• Timing of windrowing of canola can have a huge impact on profitability through its influence on yield and oil%.
• Profit could be reduced by up to $50/day for every day that crops are windrowed before they are ready.
• The window for windrowing on time is relatively small.
• Direct heading of canola is a viable and comparable alternative to well-timed windrowing, but may easily outperform crops that are windrowed before they are ready.
• In contrast, the window for direct heading crops to maximise yield and profit may be much larger than those that are windrowed.
• Desiccation, other than that for weed control, in many cases will not significantly speed up crop maturity.

Time differences between windrowed and direct headed crops may also not be as different as thought, provided windrowing of crops is done at more appropriate stages. If growers choose to windrow early to finish early, that decision will come at a significant price paid in terms of decreased yield and oil%.

Please access the full paper via the link below for methodology, references, acknowledgements and discussion.