Compare canola varieties at CCC site

         The Canola Council of Canada (CCC) has issued its Prairie Canola Variety Trials (PCVT) results for 2009. Companies enter their varieties voluntarily, but you'll find most current varieties are in the test.

         PCVT compares varieties under standard plots, a standardized protocol, and the same environmental conditions. Roundup Ready varieties do not get Roundup treatment. Liberty Link varieties do not get Liberty treatment. Test plots were kept weed-free using conventional herbicides. As the PCVT booklet says, the 2009 trials were conducted by seed companies, government researchers, and independent contractors.

Look at LSD

         The Canola Council encourages farmers to look at the Least Significant Difference (LSD) value for each table. LSD indicates whether differences between varieties are meaningful — or real. CCC gives this example: If the yields for varieties canola 1, canola 2, and canola 3 are 106, 99, and 103 and the LSD is 5, then varieties 1 and 3 have no significant difference in yield difference based on the data collected in the PCVT trials. Varieties 1 and 2 ARE significantly different.

         When you look through the tables, you’ll see the LSD is 10 or higher for many comparisons. Look for tables with lower LSD values.