Swathing canola at the optimum stage of ripening reduces green seed problems and seed shatter losses and ensures the quality required for top grades and prices.

Why do you windrow canola?

Canola is an indeterminate plant, which means it flowers until limited by temperature, water stress or nutrients. As a result, pod development can last over 3–5 weeks, with lower pods maturing before higher ones. Consequently, canola is often windrowed to ensure all pods are mature at harvest.

Do you have to windrow canola?

The plant should be windrowed before the lower pods approach shattering stage. Like hay cutting, windrowing of canola hastens the maturity of the crop, allowing the top pods to be harvested at the same time as the lower pods.