The Canola Council has launched Canol@Grow, an exciting new Web-based agronomic tool designed to help growers and extension workers quickly find key canola production information to assist in maximizing canola profitability, says John Mayko, the Canola Council's Agronomic Research & Extension Manager.

Canol@Grow merges key elements of three previously released tools, the popular Canola Growers Manual, the Canola Growers Decision Support System CD, and the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Matrix.

Mayko explains the recently revised (2003) Canola Growers Manual is the most comprehensive base of practical canola production information available. The Decision Support CD is an extension of the manual and uses an interactive menu driven approach to help diagnose production issues. The IPM matrix was developed by the federal Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) to assist in identifying and implementing practical IPM strategies on the farm.

Canol@Grow offers users an interactive approach to solving canola production issues, and access to a considerable storehouse of information on IPM, which is becoming a much more important factor in crop management, says Mayko. He explains that management refers to the timely and appropriate use of pest control methods including natural, cultural and chemical approaches.

Canol@Grow features a series of main topics, each with user friendly drop-down menus. For example, a grower looking for information on safe storage conditions for canola would simply click the menu item "Crop Production." From the drop down menu that appears, the user would then click on "Storing/Conditioning Canola" and highlight "Factors Affecting Safe Storage."

"Canol@Grow is designed to bring practical and pertinent canola production information to anyone with Internet access, in a format that is easy to navigate, and easy for us to update as new information becomes available," says Mayko.

Canol@Grow is a key component of the Canola Council's Canola Advantage program whose mandate is to extend practical crop production information to growers and industry in a timely and effective manner. Canol@Grow was developed with support from the Pest Management Regulatory Agency Sustainable Pest Management Program.

To access Canol@Grow, go to: http://www.canola-council.org/production/icp/icp.aspx

This press release is part of the Canola Council's Canola Advantage program. The program is supported regionally by: Alberta Canola Producers Commission; Saskatchewan Canola Development Commission; Manitoba Canola Growers Association; Canola Council of Canada; Peace River Agriculture Development Fund; and B.C. Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries.