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Economic Analysis

Economic Value of Polymer Seed Coat for Fall-Seeded Canola

^a Agriculture Financial Services Corporation, 5718 56 Ave., Lacombe, AB, Canada T4L 1B1
^b Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge Research Centre, P.O. Box 3000, Lethbridge, AB, Canada T1J 4B1
^c Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lacombe Research Centre, 6000 C and E Trail, Lacombe, AB, Canada T4L 1W1

^* Corresponding author (smithel{at}agr.gc.ca)

Received for publication October 24, 2005. Applying a polymer seed coat (PSC) to canola (Brassica napus L. and B. rapa L.) seed could be economically beneficial for dormant fall seeding. Field trials at three locations and across 3 yr were used to evaluate the effect of seeding date, use of a PSC, and canola cultivar on crop yield and net returns. The net returns were used to estimate the economic value of using a PSC for three locations, two seeding dates, and four canola cultivars. Net returns differed across locations, and cultivar differences occurred in one of the three locations. Net returns were higher for late-fall seeding, compared with early-fall seeding, with or without the use of a PSC. The value of a PSC was generally positive for early-fall seeding and negative for late-fall seeding. However, at a location prone to midwinter mild spells during which seed germination could occur, the PSC generally had no value. Despite the PSC having a positive value for early-fall dormant seeding, its potential use will be limited because early-fall seeding with a PSC had lower net returns than late-fall seeding without a PSC.

Abbreviations: PSC, polymer seed coat