The rate of seeding affects crop maturity. Higher seeding rates produce plants with fewer branches that mature earlier than those at low seeding rates, especially under high levels of nitrogen. In the Peace River region of Canada, an Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada study reported that increasing the seeding rate from 5 to 18 kg/ha (5 to 16 lb/ac) reduced the maturity by five to seven days. A reduction of two to three days in maturity has been reported in the Edmonton, AB and Melfort, SK areas with seeding rate increases from 5 to 12 kg/ha (5 to 11 lb/ac). The seeding rate effect on maturity is more pronounced under cool, late summer conditions than under warm conditions. The slight gain in maturity at higher seeding rates must be weighed against possible increases in lodging and sclerotinia.