BrettYoung first introduced Pod DefendR® a few years ago and the trait has since proven to be a game changer for our canola growers. With a Pod DefendR-rated hybrid, you can enjoy the flexibility of delayed swathing and straight cutting and worry less about suffering pod shatter losses.
Products with the Pod DefendR designation must score a minimum of 7.0 on the Canola Council of Canada’s pod shatter rating scale. This scale rates canola hybrids from one to nine with one being poor tolerance and nine being excellent.
The Pod DefendR trait acts through major genes to strengthen the pod’s replum and seam, moderate valve twisting and induce other pathways for durable shatter tolerance. BY 6217TF is rated as an 8 on the pod shatter rating scale, making it a very strong performer for holding on to seed, but with that comes some potential adjustments to ensure all seed ends up in the bin.
Maturity
BY 6217TF is a full-season hybrid and if trial harvest timing is judged through monitoring of earlier hybrids in strip trials, BY 6217TF may be relatively immature. It is well documented that canola swathed prematurely results in inadequate seed fill and lower yields.
Find more harvest resources: Swath timing and harvest management guides can be found at: https://www.canolacouncil.org/growing-canola/agronomy-guides/#harvest
Pre-Harvest Aids
A pre-harvest aid should be considered if plants have remained green and tough to harvest late into the season. With BY 6217TF having the potential to be a large, vigorous plant, a pre-harvest aid may help to speed up its harvest timing.
More harvest tips: Other tips on canola harvest are at: https://www.canolacouncil.org/canola-encyclopedia/harvest-management/
Combine Settings
Unthreshed pods come up frequently with pod shatter tolerant hybrids and combine settings must be adjusted to compensate for this. Increase cylinder or rotor speed, narrow the concave setting, add concave blank plates and slow down to help capture yield. Using a drop pan to assess losses and make adjustments will help to minimize seed or full pods going out the back of the combine.
Helpful tools: Harvest Loss Calculator & Combine Optimization Tool at: https://www.canolacouncil.org/calculator/
BY 6217TF remains a leading option for growers looking for a high yield performer with a full stack of disease (both Blackleg and Clubroot DefendR®) and strong Pod DefendR traits.
FAQ
What is the advantage of the Pod DefendR® trait in BY 6217TF canola?
The Pod DefendR trait provides increased pod shatter tolerance, allowing for greater flexibility with swathing and straight cutting while reducing losses from pod shatter.
How does BY 6217TF perform on the Canola Council of Canada’s pod shatter rating scale?
BY 6217TF is rated as an 8 on the pod shatter rating scale, indicating very strong performance in holding on to seeds.
What should growers consider regarding maturity and swathing timing for BY 6217TF?
BY 6217TF is a full-season hybrid that may be relatively immature if compared to earlier hybrids. Swathing prematurely can cause inadequate seed fill and lower yields so careful timing based on crop maturity is important.
When should a pre-harvest aid be used for BY 6217TF?
A pre-harvest aid should be considered if plants remain green and are difficult to harvest late in the season especially since BY 6217TF can be a large vigorous plant.
What combine adjustments are recommended for harvesting BY 6217TF?
Growers should increase cylinder or rotor speed, narrow the concave setting, add concave blank plates and slow down to help capture more yield and reduce seed losses. Using a drop pan to assess losses is also suggested.
