U.S. Canola Digest Winter Canola Edition June 2011

WINTER CANOLA EDITION

WITH DEKALB

WINTER CANOLA.

Editorial

Editorial Director/Editor

Angela Dansby angela@uscanola.com

Associate Editor Clare Pierson clare@uscanola.com

Contributing Writers

Josh Bushong

Brian Caldbeck

John Damicone, Ph.D. Chad Godsey, Ph.D. Michael Stamm, M.S. Dale Thorenson Frank Young, Ph.D.

Management Publishers

Barry Coleman coleman@ndpci.com

John Gordley john@uscanola.com

Advertising Sales Representative Mary O’Donohue modonohue@gordley.com

Production

Graphic

Melissa Rosenquist melissa.rosenquist@gmail.com

600 Pennsylvania, SE, Suite 320 Washington, DC 20003

tel: 202.969.8113

fax: 202.969.7036 www.uscanola.com

Regional

WINTER CANOLA EDITION

On the Cover: Winter canola growing strong in Oklahoma. Photo courtesy of Chad Godsey, Ph.D., Oklahoma State University.

Reaping Research Rewards

Agronomic research is critical for canola, an emerging U.S. crop. With funding for such research, the National Canola Research Program (NCRP) has been helping build the U.S. canola sector one region at a time. Five regions – North Central, Great Plains, Pacific Northwest, South and Midwest – compete on an annual basis for about $800,000 in federal money. Results of research projects are then applied in the field. Summaries of recent NCRP-funded projects on page 25 underscore their value. Canola acreage is poised for significant growth and NCRP funding will help it get there.

Case in point, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service March 31 Prospective Plantings report projected U.S. canola acreage to be up 111 percent for the 2011 crop year at 1.6 million acres. Oklahoma’s estimated acreage

is 100,000, a 167 percent increase from 2010. In light of near exponential growth in the Great Plains in the past three years, the U.S. Canola Association’s (USCA’s) Board of Directors voted in March to continue to fund the Promote Canola Acres program in the region for another year (page 6).

National Canola Research Conference

Results of various canola research projects, some funded by the NCRP, were presented at the National Canola Research Conference in Long Beach, Calif., in November 2010. Updates on select projects are featured in this issue, including from the Pacific Northwest, growing canola on tribal land for use in biodiesel production (page 18); from the Great Plains, no-till production of winter canola, harvest management, dual-purpose canola varieties for grain and grazing, canola growth under limited irrigation, the effect of residue removal on winter survival and winter canola variety development (page 21); and from the southeast, establishing a uniform stand of winter canola (page 24).

Blackleg in Yellow Country

Blackleg was first identified on canola in north-central Oklahoma in December 2009 and found again in December 2010 in the center of the state. Since this fungal disease is established in crop stubble and airborne

spores are produced, it will likely have to be controlled long-term. Fortunately, all winter canola varieties grown today have some level of blackleg resistance. In addition, blackleg management trials are underway in the Great Plains to address stages of crop susceptibility, variety resistance and the effectiveness of fungicide application.

Another problem appearing in canola is “winter decline syndrome,” which refers to the gradual decline of canola stands in the late winter and early spring in contrast to the quick death of non-hardy canola varieties from winter kill. Winter decline syndrome may be confused with blackleg visually and it can be present at varying degrees along with blackleg. Read more about these two plant problems on page 14.

Extension on the Road

With hands-on assistance, farmers can learn to identify and analyze crop production problems and find solutions. Thanks to extension specialists in Oklahoma, farmers are getting one-on-one lessons on how to grow canola. Read how extension specialists have helped increase canola acreage in the Great Plains and why they do it on page 10.

Grazing Canola

A 2006 Australian study found that canola can produce significant amounts of forage for cattle and – assuming it does not negatively impact seed yield – could increase the crop’s value by $804 per acre. In order to increase the value of winter canola, researchers at the University of Idaho have been pioneering Canolage™, an ensiling system, since 2008 to allow farmers to have both a cash crop and cattle feed. Canola forage could increase profitability for farmers by creating a dual-use crop for the price of one and increasing rotation flexibility. It could also drive up winter canola production in the Pacific Northwest and other areas “grazing for growth.” Learn more on page 11.

New Grill Drill

Need a fresh grilling idea? Try salmon fillets! The recipe on page 26 by Carla Hall from Bravo’s “Top Chef” and upcoming co-star of ABC-TV’s “The Chew” will float your boat this summer.

Angela Dansby, editor angela@uscanola.com

GENUITY ® ROUNDUP READY ® SPRING CANOLA OFFERS FARMER BENEFITS FOR 2011

The numbers are crunched for the 2010 growing season for spring canola in the northern Plains, and if there’s any overriding lesson learned from this past year, it is simply that growing top-performing canola hybrids can be profitable in 2011.

Market prices for canola oil remain strong, and improved seed with excellent genetics and biotech traits makes profitable yields within reach of many farmers. “We’ve had good luck most years with canola in terms of profitability,” says Norman Buynak, who farms with his brother, Nathan, near Antler, North Dakota. The brothers also grow spring wheat, barley, flax, soybeans, sunflowers and field peas.

“Canola also has good rotational value in an oilseed operation like ours,” Buynak adds. “We plant it most years for those two reasons – agronomics and economics.”

“As a cropping alternative, canola is proving to be one of the most profitable crops a farmer in central North Dakota can grow, based on yield and economic data from 2010,” says Mark Torno, U.S. Canola and Sunflower Marketing Manager for CROPLAN GENETICS®. “Canola profitability and return on investment are often better than those for corn, soybeans, flax, spring wheat, barley or sunflowers.”

Rob Ihrig, Monsanto Specialty Crops Marketing Manager, notes that spring canola seed products that carry the Genuity® Roundup Ready® trait have performed especially well the last few years. Some of these elite products have earned the Performance Ready™ designation from Monsanto based on field trials conducted by North Dakota State University and the University of Minnesota. These Performance Ready™ products across multiple seed brands feature top spring canola genetics and also provide the unsurpassed weed control offered by the Genuity® Roundup Ready® system.

CHALLENGE

Weed control is critical to a successful canola harvest. Early emerging weeds do more damage to yield potential than later ones.

SOLUTION

“These high-end products are in great demand for 2011 planting. As of mid-December, roughly 80 percent of canola seed was already booked by North Dakota farmers,” Torno adds. “In addition to the latest genetics with tremendous yield potential, the Roundup Ready® trait plays a role in keeping yields up by enabling effective weed control.”

CROPLAN GENETICS® has one product – HyCLASS 940 – that has been a Performance Ready™ mainstay for three years. Two other promising products – HyCLASS 988 and HyCLASS 947 – are leading contenders for the designation. “We’ve seen yields bumping or even exceeding 3,000 pounds per acre with these products in both trial plots and under some real-life field conditions,” Torno adds.

DEKALB® has three current Performance Ready™ products – DKL30-42, DKL52-41 and DKL72-55 – and added a new product, DKL70-07, for 2011, into the Performance Ready™ class, based on university trials and field plots in 2010. To get this designation, the average yield data of a Genuity® Roundup Ready® hybrid has to exceed the average yield of the InVigor 8440 and InVigor 5630 LibertyLink® products at 60 percent or more of the trial locations. The average yield of the Roundup Ready® products across all locations has to exceed the average yield of the LibertyLink® products by 5 percent or more.

Other Performance Ready™ products include Integra 7121 RR from Wilbur-Ellis and possibly other new additions when all 2010 growing season data is finalized.

Jay Bjerke, Canola Product Manager for Winfield Solutions in Moorhead, Minnesota, says that Performance Ready™ designate HyCLASS 940 and a new product, HyCLASS 921, yielded very well in 2010. “Growers were very pleased with the yields of these hybrids,” Bjerke notes. “Demand for seed of these products is very high for 2011, and we expect to sell out of them.”

Canola Sees Steady Gains

Acreage and Demand Continue to Rise, While Industry Survives Federal Spending Cuts

Dale Thorenson

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) National Agricultural Statistics Service March 31 Prospective Plantings report projected U.S. canola acreage to be up 111 percent for the 2011 crop year at 1.6 million acres. North Dakota continues to lead the nation in canola production with projections of 1.4 million acres, followed by Oklahoma’s estimated acreage of 100,000, a 167 percent increase from 2010.

In light of the near exponential growth of canola acreage in the Great Plains in the past three years, the U.S. Canola Association’s (USCA’s) Board of Directors voted during its March 2011 annual meeting to include $25,000 in the association’s fiscal year (FY) 2011-12 budget to fund the Promote Canola Acres (PCA) program in the region for another year.

The USCA established the PCA program in late 2007 with a commitment to provide $100,000 over three years to promote growing canola in various regions of the country. During that timeframe, the USCA invested over $107,000 in the program: about $47,000 in FY 2008-09; $37,000 in FY 2009-10; and $23,000 in FY 2010-11. The Great Plains program has been funded all three years, a Northern Plains program in the first two years and a midsouth program in the first year.

The Great Plains region will use the additional PCA funds in conjunction with extension and industry resources to continue underwriting the cost of a full-time canola specialist in the primary winter canola production area to assist new canola growers with management practices. The funding also helps cover the costs of educational meetings and field days to promote the expansion of winter canola.

NCRP Survives Budget Crunch

When the dust settled after nearly a year of Congressional wrangling over the final spending levels for the FY 2011 federal budget, the National Canola Research Program (NCRP) received $833,000 through the Supplemental and Alternative Crops Competitive Grants Program – a 0.2 percent reduction from the previous year’s appropriation. All things considered, this was a very positive outcome for canola research and a reflection of the efforts of the USCA Board of Directors and canola research community in maintaining a good dialogue with members of Congress about the importance of these federal research dollars to increase U.S. canola production.

U.S. canola oil consumption has increased dramatically from 2005 to 2010 – from 5.5 to 8.8 pounds per capita or about 160 percent. However, U.S. canola production has not matched this

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1 Intended plantings in 2011 as indicated by reports from farmers.

2 Other states include Colorado, Kansas and Washington. The 2011 estimate carried forward from 2010. The first 2011 estimate for other states will be published in Acreage June 30, 2011.

Jeff Scott, Great Plains Canola Association president (left), and David Porter, professor of plant and soil sciences at Oklahoma State University (right), pay a congressional visit to House Agriculture Committee Chair Frank Lucas (Okla.) to discuss National Canola Research Program funding in March 2011.

EXPERIENCE WEEDLESSNESS.

A weed-free field is a happy field. Turn to the expertise of a CROPLAN GENETICS® seed agronomist to help you select the right CROPLAN GENETICS® Genuity® Roundup Ready® SURT (sulfonylurea residual tolerant) Winter Canola for your fields. Your field will notice the difference, and so will you.

CROPLAN GENETICS® seed and AgriSolutions™ products are available at your local co-op.

croplangenetics.com

Great Plains Canola Battles Drought

Despite Weather, Canola Harvest is Success

This past spring was busy for Oklahoma canola producers. Oklahoma State University (OSU) held a four-day winter canola field tour at 15 locations across the state in early April. At these tours, a total of 165 farmers were educated on canola pest control, fertility, variety selection, harvesting options and marketing options. These tours were located at the Oklahoma Oilseed Commission canola demonstration strips and OSU canola variety trial sites so the farmers were able to see first-hand the difference among canola varieties. In addition to these 15 field tours, a “grand finale” tour at OSU’s North Central Research Station near Lahoma covered canola varieties, insect pest management, fertility, weed control, diseases, harvesting methods and marketing. About 130 attendees were able to view the fertility, variety and weed control field trials and compare the effects of different treatments.

In addition to the OSU-sponsored field tours, canola producers had the opportunity to visit other fields across Oklahoma with Monsanto and Winfield Solutions. These companies also teamed up with the High Plains Journal to provide two Canola U (as in “university”) events. The last one was in Oklahoma City and included a visit to Producers Cooperative Oil Mill to tour canola plots, which allowed the 100 attendees to view and discuss planting and harvesting equipment. Canola U also addressed various canola production topics.

Moreover, Winfield Solutions hosted two series of plot tours at three locations across the state this spring. They discussed canola production topics and allowed producers to see first-hand the varieties and treatments demonstrated in field plots.

Harvest Outlook

The 2011 winter canola crop in the Southern Great Plains is on its way to being harvested. This year, the crop has been fully tested for its ability to produce under drought-stressed conditions. While some areas are worse off than others, a good portion will still harvest a profitable crop. The opinions of regional producers are that canola has faired the drought better than winter wheat. Adjacent field comparisons of wheat next to canola gave some producers a new appreciation of canola. This season has definitely been one for the record books, but most of the canola crop will likely yield well and most canola producers will likely increase their acreage.

In conjunction with drought conditions, there were heavy insect pressures this past season. The importance of timely field scouting and insecticide application has greatly benefited many producers. When appropriate measures were taken, the canola crop was able to establish a healthier plant that was capable of handling the drought. Unfortunately, a few acres were terminated due to the compounding effects of both insect pressure and

Josh Bushong

Dr. Brian Arnall of Oklahoma State University discusses canola fertility at a field tour near Okeene, Okla.

Mark Boyles of Oklahoma State University talks about canola varieties at a field tour near Leadey, Okla.

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increased demand and this year’s 1.6 million acres of production will account for only about 33 percent of the 4.5 million acres needed to meet current U.S. canola oil consumption rates.

The USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture published a request for applications for the NCRP on April 25, 2011, noting the goal of the program is “to significantly increase canola crop production and/or acreage by developing and testing of superior germplasm, methods of planting, cultivation, harvesting, and then transferring new knowledge to producers (via Extension) as soon as practicable.” The deadline for submitting proposals was May 31.

Winter Canola Crop Insurance

The Federal Crop Insurance Corporation’s (FCIC’s) Risk Management Agency (RMA) expanded its canola insurance policy into nine counties in Oklahoma for the 2011 crop year and Oklahoma canola growers made good use of it. FCIC records show that insured canola acreage in Oklahoma totaled nearly 45,000, more than a two-fold increase from about 21,000 acres insured in 2010. FCIC records for the 2010 crop year also show favorable loss ratios of 0.74 for Oklahoma as of May 2– an indication that growers are adapting to the management requirements of winter canola.

The RMA plans to monitor the region’s canola production history before expanding the policy to more counties. It may review the program at the end of the 2011 harvest season to determine if further expansion is warranted for 2013. For growers outside of the nine

drought stress. Due to the drought throughout the region, the canola harvest may come sooner than some are prepared for.

Since a good portion of canola acres in the area utilize custom swathing, pushing and/or harvesting, arranging these services as early as possible in advance will prove to be very beneficial. Since canola is shatter-prone, the importance of harvesting in a timely fashion could be the difference between putting a crop in the bin and leaving it all out on the ground. All it takes is one storm to lose the crop. To assist canola farmers in finding custom harvesters, the Great Plains Canola Association and OSU have compiled a list of custom harvesters for canola. The current list can be found at either www.greatplainscanola.org or www.canola.okstate.edu.

In addition to Producers Cooperative Oil Mill (PCOM) in Oklahoma City, ADM-Northern Sun in Goodland, Kan., will also be marketing canola in the Southern Great Plains. PCOM currently has at least 25 delivery points across the region and can arrange onfarm storage and pick-up. ADM has a few delivery points in the region, but will mostly be in favor of on-farm storage and pick-up. The addition of ADM as a regional canola crusher has provided farmers more marketing options.

Upcoming Events

The GPCA and OSU will host the 7th annual Winter Canola Conference on July 19, 2011 in Enid, Okla., with an additional meeting on July 20 in Lawton, Okla. Both meetings will cover new material from the past year regarding field research and on-farm experiences. Shortly after the conference in Enid, the GPCA and Oklahoma Oilseed Commission will have a meeting.

Josh Bushong is a winter canola extension specialist in Stillwater, Okla.

canola counties, written agreements are available if the request for coverage is received prior to the Aug. 31 sales closing date. If canola production history is not available, three years of production records from similar crops, such as wheat, oats or barley, are accepted as production history for written agreements. However, growers using written agreements in states that do not have at least one county with a canola policy are not eligible for revenue coverage, only yield protection. That’s because the commodity exchange prices which determine the revenue price are listed on a state-by-state basis and only in states that have counties with canola policies in place.

USCA President Attends Farm Bill Forum

Leaders of major farm organizations, including USCA President Kevin Waslaski, gathered for a farm bill forum sponsored by the American Farm Bureau Federation in Washington, D.C., on April 14-15, 2011. Attendees were briefed by governmental, university and trade association analysts about the status of current farm policy, as well as World Trade Organization negotiations, for use as background information to aid in developing farm bill policy positions. In the coming months, Congress will begin the process of drafting a replacement for the 2008 Farm Bill, which expires on Sept. 30, 2012. Those giving presentations at the forum included USDA Chief Economist Joe Glauber, Craig Jagger, minority chief economist for the House Agriculture Committee, and Jim Miller, majority senior policy advisor for the Senate Budget Committee.

Dale Thorenson is associate director of the U.S. Canola Association in Washington, D.C.

On the Road:

Oklahoma Canola Extension Specialists Get Hands Dirty

Clare Pierson

Agricultural extension is the application of scientific research and knowledge of agricultural practices through farmer education. With the exchange of ideas and hands-on assistance, farmers can identify and analyze crop production problems and become aware of opportunities for improvement.

In the canola field, though, it’s a different ballgame than most crops. Since it’s relatively new – having only been in the U.S. since the 1980s – canola extension specialists have had to literally start from scratch with farmers, especially in winter canola-growing regions, which are even newer to the crop.

Starting from Scratch

Heath Sanders, who did winter canola extension work in an internship from 2005 to 2008 with Dr. Tom Peeper at Oklahoma State University (OSU) and then official extension work for OSU from 2008 to 2010, recalls his first days seeing canola.

“I remember thinking, what is this?” he said. “I thought it was pretty neat and I’ve been intrigued by it since I saw it.”

Sanders worked with Peeper on a few beginning plots of canola, as Peeper’s goal

was to find a crop to rotate with winter wheat and fix continuous problems farmers were having with it.

In 2005, Sanders remembers the Great Plains region had about 17,000 acres of winter canola for the first time. As part of his internship, he helped farmers collect data and harvest the crop successfully. Two months of this job jump-started a makeshift extension program.

When Sanders finished his internship in 2008, funding from the Great Plains Canola Association allowed OSU to hire him as an official extension agent. Both he and Peeper knew that in order to increase acres in Oklahoma and the rest of the Southern plains, there had to be somebody on the ground helping farmers with canola production issues. Sanders began in the Enid, Okla., extension office and covered a wide area between northwest and southwest Oklahoma.

“Think about how a crop gets started,” he said. “How do you get everything on its way and keep striving and working if you have no industry, no backbone and you’re starting from scratch? It’s been very challenging [but] I love to do it.”

Having grown up on a farm, Sanders says he’s a farmer at heart and truly passionate about the work he does.

“I like to be able to help somebody, share information and assist farmers in making this crop easier to grow and more successful for them,” he said. “I enjoy being out there, seeing how the crop’s doing, being with farmers on the combine and helping them.”

Extending Extension

In 2010, Sanders became an oilseed agronomist for Producers Cooperative Oil Mill (PCOM), doing similar extension work. Josh Bushong¸ who replaced him as OSU canola extension specialist, currently spends most of his time on the road meeting with as many canola producers as he can.

Before planting season starts, Bushong presents at multiple production meetings to educate farmers about how to produce a canola crop. At planting time, he goes around and assists farmers with drill calibration since most of them have never calibrated their drills

for such a small-seeded crop. As the season progresses, he helps farmers do field scouting from fall to spring.

“Since most of them are new canola producers, they need hands-on education to know what to look for, when to look for it, how to find it and what to do about it,” Bushong said. “For example, one of the main challenges new canola producers face is achieving an adequate stand.”

All of his recommendations are based on research data and general field observations from his previous seven years doing research; therefore, the farmers are able to trust his information, Bushong noted. As harvest time approaches, he spends most of his time on the road again. Since many Oklahoma canola producers prefer to condition their crop for harvest by swathing or pushing, he uses hands-on methods to teach them how to determine crop maturity and know when to swath or push.

“All in all, working one-on-one with the producers has really helped build their confidence in growing this new crop and has been very well received by many,” Bushong said. “This is how we have been able to increase canola acreage.”

Getting Hands Dirty

The job certainly comes with its challenges as every farmer is different – each has a different budget, way of doing things, resources and level of knowledge of canola. There is also a trust and confidence obstacle to overcome with extension specialists.

“Gaining trust from a farmer seems to be the biggest challenge,” Bushong said. “Sometimes when you visit an experienced farmer, it takes some skill to gain his trust from a young college graduate. After gaining his trust, the next challenge is keeping it. That’s accomplished by continuing education to produce canola as the season progresses. A vast majority of the time, the farmers realized I knew what I was talking about and tried to follow my recommendations as best as they could.”

While Bushong’s information is beneficial, getting it to the farmers in time can be a challenge.

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Having grown up on a farm, Heath Sanders says he’s a farmer at heart and truly passionate about extension work. Photo courtesy of Mark Boyles, Oklahoma State University.

ALTERNATIVE CROP USES

Grazing for Growth

Winter Canola Harvested for Forage May Double Farmer Benefits

Clare Pierson

In the Pacific Northwest, canola is currently harvested for seed only and higher value crops like wheat continue to outshine canola despite its advantageous rotational benefits. A 2006 Australian study, however, found that canola can produce significant amounts of forage for cattle and – assuming it does not negatively impact seed yield – could even increase the crop’s value by $804 per acre.

Researchers at the University of Idaho have been pioneering Canolage™, an ensiling system, since 2008 with the goal of increasing the value of winter canola by allowing farmers to develop their own cattle feed. Canola forage could increase profitability for farmers by making winter canola a dual-use crop for the price of one and increase rotation flexibility, according to Jack Brown, Ph.D., professor of plant breeding and genetics at the University of Idaho.

He said the idea for Canolage™ came about in irrigated agricultural applications. Farmers in these areas grow alfalfa for forage and typically rotate it with barley.

“We thought, instead of barley, why not canola?” Brown said. “That way, farmers could grow it the same way they do barley – plant it early in the year and treat it like a forage crop. Cut it four to five times and at harvest, get 1 to 1.5 tons of forage, which is every bit as good if not better than alfafa.”

Farmers even have the option of leaving the crop in the soil after the last cutting since it’s good for the soil in the winter and stops water and wind erosion. In springtime, the crop develops very quickly and can be harvested for seed, which in turn, is used in the production of canola oil and biodiesel.

Foraging for Research

In spring 2008, two winter canola varieties, ‘Athena’ and ‘Baldur,’ were tested at the University of Idaho for canola forage production. They were planted at four different dates and three different seeding rates. When plants reached about 12 to 18 inches tall, they were harvested and samples were taken and dried to 65 percent moisture. A second subsample was dried completely. One inch of irrigation was applied along with a top dressing.

Silage quality from each cut was evaluated to determine the percent of dry matter, forage yield, crude protein and pH among other factors using standard methods. Crop establishment was evaluated on each plot the following spring. Date of flowering, plant height and date of maturity was recorded. Canola was found to have a relative feed value of over 300, indicating excellent feed quality.

Canola forage is high in protein and energy and low in fiber. A 2007 Pennsylvania State University study found that its digestibility factor often exceeds 90 percent compared to alfalfa at 70 percent. Values of canola forage in a vegetative state compared to a mature crop vary greatly and should not be confused, researchers noted.

The University of Idaho team is also experimenting with using canola to directly strip-feed livestock, which it has found to be successful. The researchers experimented with this for an entire summer by allowing sheep to feed on canola in the winter and dairy cows on it in the spring. Brown said the crop recovered quite well because it accumulated a large root mass in the spring.

Work Ahead

Some research is yet to be done on canola forage, such as the fertilizer, cut times

and amount of water needed. According to Brown, his team at the University of Idaho plans to determine the quality and quantity of silage that can be obtained from winter canola – with different planting dates from spring to early fall – to determine the feasibility of producing canola silage and increasing the value of the crop. The effect of cutting winter canola for silage on final seed yield also needs to be investigated.

There have been some problems with shipping and transporting canola forage due to its high moisture content that may be solved by cross-breeding different types of varieties and finding new cultivars for adaptability. In addition, researchers found when making canola silage that it is low in watersoluble carbohydrates, which are necessary to drop pH levels for the ensiling process. Canola forage’s high moisture and nitrogen levels can prolong ensiling. A seed inoculant could be used to help if necessary.

The low fiber content of canola forage has led to several new studies at the University of Idaho to examine the effectiveness of canola mixtures (i.e., canola-triticale and canolaspring pea). Canola increases the protein content of triticale forage, while triticale

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The University of Idaho plans to determine the quality and quantity of silage that can be obtained from winter canola – with different planting dates from spring to early fall – to increase the value of the crop. Photo courtesy of Jack Brown, Ph.D., University of Idaho.

Figure 1. Spring 2008 trials found that canola forage had an excellent relative feed value (RFV) of over 300 – significantly higher than triticale and alfalfa.

On the Road

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“The most frustrating part of my job is when I can’t reach every farm when I need to,” he said. “It was really frustrating when I came to a field I never knew about and found problems that could have been avoided with proper management. For example, this spring, I had a few calls about canola fields that a farmer thought he lost to drought, but after visiting the fields, I discovered cutworms had destroyed the crop. If I had been in contact the previous fall, I could have shown him how to scout his field for the pest. It could have been controlled and the problem would have been avoided.”

And then, there are the obstacles like weather that are out of everyone’s control.

“There are constant environmental challenges – freezes, droughts, late spring freezes,” Sanders added. “There is a steep learning curve with the way canola reacts in the Southern plains and we’re still learning. We’ve been growing wheat in this area for hundreds of years and don’t have that figured out either. We’ve come a long way but we still have some things to work out.”

Fortunately, farmers have ways of dealing with the unpredictable elements of their job. Working directly with producers across the state, Bushong said that many of them love company and are very humorous.

“Some are hard to walk away from when they want to chat all afternoon,” he said. “I have made numerous contacts while working with the extension program and have really enjoyed this experience.”

A Bright Yellow Future

Canola education has progressed tremendously, according to both Sanders and Bushong. They say not only has the effort been increased by OSU, but also from multiple industry groups, which have provided field tours, workshops and annual conferences. Farmer attendance has notably increased over the years and demand for hands-on assistance continues to grow.

“As we continue to increase canola acreage in Oklahoma, the demand for direct assistance will only continue,” said Bushong. “One-on-one assistance with the farmers has greatly helped them in producing a great crop.”

Sanders said a huge step forward for the region was when PCOM announced it would crush canola in 2007, which opened the door for farmers and provided a local delivery point. As of this year, ADM’s sunflower crushing plant near Goodland, Kan., will also accept canola.

In addition, better canola varieties and genetics have helped farmers progress.

“New varieties and what we now have available are a night and day difference from what we started with,” Sanders said. “We’ve got better genetics, yield potential and winter survival now in our seeds, and farmers have plenty more options than five or six years ago.”

In addition, Great Plains canola farmers have extension agents like Sanders and Bushong to help them successfully grow a new crop, diversifying their crop rotations.

“I understand agriculture and really appreciate farmers and what they do because I grew up on that side of it,” Sanders concluded. “I know the good days and bad days and good years and not-so-good years. I can definitely relate. Anything that we can do to help them … I really enjoy that.”

Clare Pierson is associate editor of U.S. Canola Digest.

Grazing for Growth

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increases the fiber content of canola forage. After a single forage harvest at the triticale milk-seed stage, winter canola is allowed to continue growing throughout the winter and then harvested as canola seed crop the following spring.

Grazing Eastward

It seems that so far, canola is used as forage primarily in the Pacific Northwest. But according to Mike Stamm, M.S., canola breeder at Kansas State University (KSU), canola as a dualpurpose forage and grain crop could effectively work in Kansas, but it hasn’t been widely promoted.

“Oklahoma State University thought canola grazing was a good idea until they saw that it can reduce grain yield significantly,” Stamm said. “In Kansas, there are a few growers who have been quite successful grazing canola. When established correctly, canola can produce a lot of high-quality forage that is very digestible.”

There are some management issues with grazing that are more critical with canola than wheat, he noted, but with a little more management, it can be done successfully. One other limitation to canola grazing is that the seed cannot be treated, which is recommended for grain harvesting.

KSU agronomists say a 60-day establishment period is required before an initial forage harvest and 30-day regeneration periods are needed for subsequent forage cuts.

If canola forage has the potential that initial research seems to show, farmers could utilize winter canola in a mixed system for both a cash crop and forage. This would allow them to get a “two for the price of one” deal with winter canola and its value would rise significantly. In addition, adoption of this duel crop system could markedly increase winter canola production in the Pacific Northwest and other areas “grazing for growth.”

Clare Pierson is associate editor of U.S. Canola Digest.

Blackleg in Yellow Country

John Damicone, Ph.D.

Canola production in Oklahoma and neighboring states in the southern Great Plains has a relatively short history of less than 10 years. During this time, canola has been relatively free from serious disease problems. In other production areas in North America and around the world, blackleg has been one of the most important diseases of canola and its relative, rapeseed. As cropping history increases and canola is grown on previously used crop land, disease pressure is likely to increase.

Disease Roots

Blackleg of canola, also known as Phoma stem canker, was first identified on canola in north-central Oklahoma in December 2009. However, it has a long history in this state as it was first reported on cabbage in 1945. The vegetable industry first developed seed certification programs and hot water treatment of seed to reduce the chances of introducing blackleg into new production areas.

In December 2010, blackleg was again found on canola in central Oklahoma. One affected canola field was adjacent to a wheat field that was previously planted to canola and where canola stubble was left standing. The stubble was covered with fruiting bodies of the blackleg fungus (Figure 2). When these fruiting bodies were picked off the stubble, each one examined under a microscope was filled with finger-like sacks filled with ascospores (Figure 3). These spores are the result of sexual recombination and cause the first infections of a new canola crop. Sexual recombination in blackleg is known to produce new strains or “races” of the pathogen that may overcome resistant varieties. Ascospores are released into the air following rain events and periods of high humidity. While they can travel long distances in air currents, disease levels are highest in close proximity to the infested stubble. In the case-study field, leaf spots were most numerous adjacent to the stubble and much harder to find on the distant side of the field.

Blackleg causes leaf spots on rosette-stage canola in the fall and early winter and stem cankers in the

Understanding Fungus and Winter Decline Syndrome in Great Plains Canola

Figure 2. Canola stubble covered with fruiting bodies of blackleg, which produce airborne ascospores that spread disease.

Figure 1. Stem canker phase of blackleg fungus on canola.

“

”

As cropping history increases and canola is grown on previously used crop land, disease pressure is likely to increase.

spring after bolting. The stem canker phase reduces yield when cankers advance to girdle stems prior to maturity (Figure 1, p. 14). Leaf spots (Figure 4) produced on rosette-stage canola contain a second kind of fruiting body called pycnidia, which produce asexual or clonal spores. These spores are dispersed in water from splashing rain or runoff, reinfecting plants and increasing the level of disease in fields. In canola, however, most blackleg is thought to originate from ascospores. Surprisingly, heavy ascospore loads have been found in winter canola stubble in December. This may be a normal part of disease biology in Oklahoma, or the dry fall and winter months may have delayed spore development and release from the stubble.

In Europe, where winter canola is planted in the fall, most ascospores are released between September and November. In the northern U.S. and Canada, where spring canola is grown, most of the ascospores are released from May through July. In these diverse production regions, releases of ascospores coincide with susceptible seedling and rosette stages of crop development. In Kentucky, ascospores are released over a long period of time – up to 1.5 years after harvest of an infected crop.

Blackleg Long-Term?

The potential of blackleg becoming a serious problem in Oklahoma is uncertain. Some speculate that blackleg problems in last year’s crops were due to the unusually wet fall. However, blackleg has been identified this year following an unusually dry fall. The fact that this fungus is established in crop stubble and airborne spores are produced suggests that blackleg will have to be controlled in the long term. Fortunately, all of winter canola varieties grown today have some level of blackleg resistance. In addition, there are blackleg management trials taking place this year in the Great Plains that address stages of crop susceptibility, variety resistance and the effectiveness of fungicide application. Agronomists hope to learn more about the damage potential of the disease from these trials.

Figure 4. Leaf-spot phase of blackleg on rosette-stage canola with fruiting bodies (pycnidia).

Figure 5. External symptoms of winter decline syndrome with swelling and splitting of the lower stem and crown.

Figure 3. A crushed fruiting body from canola stubble filled with finger-like sacks and ascospores.

“

”

The fact that this fungus is established in crop stubble and airborne spores are produced suggests that blackleg will have to be controlled in the long-term.

Winter Decline Syndrome

Another problem appearing in canola is “winter decline syndrome,” which refers to the gradual decline of canola stands in the late winter and early spring in contrast to the quick death of non-hardy canola varieties from winter kill. Winter decline syndrome may be confused with blackleg visually and it can be present at varying degrees along with blackleg. Plants with winter decline have swollen lower stems near the soil line (crowns). In addition, the external surface of the lower stem or crown is often cracked and discolored (Figure 6) and varying degrees of internal stem hollowing and browning (necrosis) are observed when the crown and root are cut open (Figure 7). Root maggots are found rarely in about 1 or 2 percent of affected plants and are not believed to be a primary cause of winter decline syndrome. Affected plants may die and become infested with root maggots, which seem to be attracted to the rotting plants. If affected plants survive, they are often stunted and lodge prior to harvest (Figure 8).

The specific cause of winter decline is unknown, hence the term “syndrome.” It has been associated with excessive plant growth and too much nitrogen fertilization in the fall, inadequate cold hardening, early bolting and waterlogged soils. Freezing in susceptible plants is thought to induce injury to the crown area that makes plants susceptible to invasion by microorganisms and root maggots.

More will be gleaned about the impact of blackleg and winter decline syndrome on canola yield from 2011 field trials (Figure 8) supported by the Oklahoma Oilseed Commission. Meanwhile, it’s important for farmers to be aware of the symptoms of both blackleg and winter decline.

Damicone, Ph.D., is an extension plant pathologist at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Okla.

Figure 7. A canola variety or breeding line susceptible (right) and resistant (left) to winter decline syndrome.

Figure 8. Disease management trials in at Oklahoma State University.

Figure 6. Internal root and crown discoloration death and stem pitting from winter decline syndrome.

John

All photos courtesy of John Damicone, Ph.D., Oklahoma State University.

“All of my canola is DEKALB® Genuity® Roundup Ready® for some very good reasons,” says Canton, Okla., farmer Ralph Chain. For the past seven years, Ralph has planted roughly a quarter of his acres to winter canola in rotation with hard red winter wheat.

Why DEKALB® winter canola? A wide range of maturities, winter hardiness and performance across a wide range of soil types, plus leading sulfonylurea residual tolerance (SURT) technology.

“We’ve really been able to stay on top of our biggest weed problem, feral rye, which benefits our yields and quality when we rotate back to wheat,” Chain says. “The brand does a great job with its genetics, agronomic characteristics and biotech traits, all of which are pushing our winter canola yields higher.”

Talk to your local DEKALB Dealer.

Building a Lasting Partnership

Small-Scale

Canola Biodiesel Experiment May Go Big

Frank Young, Ph.D.

In 2006, the Colville Confederated Tribes (CCT) of north-central Washington, with assistance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Agricultural Research Service (ARS), hand-planted several rows of spring canola in Omak, Wash., on tribal land. The objective of this smallscale experiment was to determine if canola could be grown for use in biodiesel that could power the tribe’s 140-plus logging trucks, school buses and other vehicles. Results of this experiment were promising and in 2007, the USDA-ARS established a long-term project in the region to evaluate alternative oilseed crops for their economic viability, agronomic feasibility and market diversification in farming systems. Initial research has focused on winter canola, which scientists felt would yield higher than spring canola and could be adopted easily by growers into their winter wheat-fallow system.

Regional Characteristics

North-central Washington has a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and 60 to 70 percent of its precipitation in the winter. The few places in the world with a similar climate include coastal lands bordering the Mediterranean Sea, central Chile, the Western Cape of South Africa and the coastal areas of central and southeast Australia. The farmland is intermingled with and/or located at the base of hilly rangeland. This land is very shallow

and rocky (Figure 1). It receives less than 11 inches of rain per year. Growers farm around rock piles using a two-year rotation of winter wheat and dust-mulch summer fallow. This system has been producing winter wheat for more than 125 years in the region. The purpose of using summer fallow is to store one year’s moisture for the subsequent winter wheat crop.

Another characteristic of this region is that winter annual grass weeds severely infest winter wheat crops. Weeds such as downy brome, jointed goatgrass and feral rye are common in this area, with life cycles similar to winter wheat. They are difficult and costly to control. Of the three grass weeds, feral rye (Figure 2) predominates. One producer was docked $1.45 per bushel for feral rye seed in his winter wheat crop and thus, he began to grow winter canola.

Winter Canola Research

The winter canola project began in the Pacific Northwest in the fall of 2007. Winter canola was the oilseed crop of choice for many reasons: 1) limited scientific research and grower production has shown success with winter canola in other wheat-fallow regions of the state; 2) it can improve pest management strategies, especially for feral rye; 3) canola diversifies markets by producing cooking oil, a biodiesel feedstock and protein meal; 4) the potential to increase farm and local communities’ sustainability

and income; and 5) the region’s late spring may not be conducive to economical yields of spring canola.

The objectives of the winter canola project are two-fold. First, the seeding date, rate and methodology of planting winter canola must be determined. Second, a multiagency partnership needs to be created that focuses on the CCT to improve human and animal health, increase self-sustainability and stimulate the local economy by creating local jobs. Research on winter canola in the wheat-fallow region and specifically, the north-central region of Washington, was initiated to improve crop stand establishment (Figure 3). One of the reasons for poor winter canola establishment is the 120° to 140°F soil temperature that young seedlings are exposed to when emerging through summer soil. A deep-furrow drill can be modified by adding 10-, 13- or 15-inch shovels ahead of the seed openers to push the hot soil to the side of the seed furrow for improved stand establishment.

One of the first questions a grower asked was if he could plant after Labor Day when all of his other farming operations were concluded. Winter canola yields from a late planting (Sept. 4) were disappointing, ranging from 600 to almost 900 pounds per acre (Figure 4). In contrast, when winter canola was planted in midAugust, yields ranged from 1,400 to 1,600 pounds per acre (Figure 5).

Figure 1. Shallow, rocky soils in north-central Washington.

Figure 2. Feral rye problem in wheat. Photo courtesy of Dennis Roe., Ph.D., Washington State University.

Figure 3. Poor winter canola stand establishment in the wheat-fallow region of the Pacific Northwest.

The USDA’s Risk Management Agency used this research data to procure firsttime canola crop insurance for Douglas and Okanogan Counties in north-central Washington. Two of the more progressive growers in the region have stated: “Winter wheat is now my rotational crop and winter canola is my money crop.” They have realized the agronomic benefits of producing winter canola to control winter grass weeds effectively, improve subsequent winter wheat yields and quality, and diversify their farm products. Based on just these two growers’ adoption of winter canola and USDA-ARS research, winter canola acreage increased from 35 acres in 2007 to over 2,000 acres in 2010.

North Central Canola Partnership

As an extension of Pacific Northwest canola research, field days, bioenergy conferences and grower cooperation, a North Central Canola Partnership has been established to help the CCT develop a new economic opportunity with a commercial-size fuel and feed production system for the region. The partnership is among the CCT; USDA’s ARS, RMA and National Resource Conservation Service; Washington State University Extension, Biofuel Project and Department of Agriculture; and local schools, growers, businesses and communities.

The partnership has been successful in assembling all components of the supply chain. It started because of the interest in canola by the CCT and local growers. Scientists and growers worked cooperatively to gain knowledge on the agronomics of canola production and harvesting. Growers, the USDA-ARS and Washington State University Extension assisted the CCT in establishing an oilseed crushing and processing facility for biodiesel production.

The facility provides biodiesel for the CCT’s vehicles and meal for the region’s livestock. This, in turn, has diversified producers’ markets and increased job opportunities. People are needed to run the CCT facility and transport the biodiesel to schools. Recently, a local feed store became an active participant and will store, market and distribute meal to livestock operations.

A Canola Recognition Day was held at Paschal Sherman Indian School, where individuals of all segments of the partnership discussed their activities. At the end of the day, canola biodiesel that was locally produced, crushed and processed was transferred into a school bus (Figure 6). The school kids cheered and laughed when the

Planted: 9-4-07 Rate: 2 lbs/ac

bus started without the typical black soot and drove away smelling like French fries!

Research with winter canola will continue in order to expand production to additional counties in north-central Washington. The North Central Canola Partnership will also grow by inviting more agencies, growers and businesses to participate in its farm-tofuel program.

Frank Young, Ph.D., is a weed scientist/ cropping systems specialist with the USDAARS Land Management and Water Conservation Research Unit in Pullman, Wash.

Photos courtesy of Frank Young unless otherwise noted.

Figure 4. Late-planted (Sept. 4) winter canola in Okanogan, Wash., at different seeding rates.

p Figure 5. Winter canola planted in mid-August.

t Figure 6. Filling a Paschal Sherman Indian School bus with biodiesel from locally grown, crushed and processed canola.

Photo courtesy of Carla Des Voigne, USDA-ARS Land Management and Water Conservation Research Unit.

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No-Till Winter Canola Considerations

Factors that Lead to Success in Winter Canola Survival

Chad Godsey, Ph.D.

Success of direct seeding winter canola into wheat stubble has received criticism since the introduction of winter canola in the Southern Plains due to winter stand loss. The decrease in stand may be due to several factors related to soil, micro-climate differences at the surface in no-till, crown height of canola plants, etc. Many producers cannot consider tillage due to conservation programs and some just simply do not want to disturb the residue on the surface.

From research during the last several growing seasons, it has been identified that stand establishment is not the problem as long as equipment is set correctly at planting. Over the years, the rate of emergence and total percent emergence (based on a 5 lb/ac seeding rate) has been similar between no-till and tillage systems. In some cases, a higher rate of emergence in no-till systems has been observed due to higher soil moisture content near the soil surface. Higher soil moisture is a characteristic of no-till systems. The studies generally found 40 to 60 percent total emergence regardless of treatment, which is common, especially with a small-seeded crop such as canola. Achieving a stand in no-till is not difficult, but keeping it is more challenging. As a rule of thumb, winter survival will decrease 10 to 20 percent in no-till fields where the stubble is retained and not removed or burned.

Based on Oklahoma studies, winter survival seems to be affected by the following properties in no-till: 1) seed placement and residue thickness, 2) crown height of winter canola plants going into winter dormancy, 3) soil temperatures in the fall and 4) soil bulk density.

Seed Placement and Residue Thickness

Getting good seed-to-soil contact is important, especially in heavier residue. Placing the seed too shallow and not penetrating the soil surface will result in a shallow-rooted canola plant. Often the roots may not even penetrate the soil surface and simply develop

underneath the residue. Achieving uniform seeding depth is easier when the residue has been evenly distributed the width of the combine header at wheat harvest. Using a harrow, if possible, or burning the residue are useful management options if the residue is not evenly distributed or too thick. If burning is deemed the best option, burn the residue just prior to seeding to help conserve soil moisture.

Crown Height

Often in heavy residue, elongation of the canola hypocotyl – the part of the plant that is below the cotyledons and above the seed – is observed. This will increase the crown height of the plant, which is important because it is directly related to winter survival. The closer the crown is to the soil surface, the better the chances for winter survival. Crown height is a plant characteristic that should be looked for when choosing a variety. Most companies have good information or ratings for crown height.

Soil Temperature

Soil temperatures in no-till fields will be lower compared to conventional till fields with no residue. It is common for bulk densities in young no-till fields to be 1.4 to 1.5 g/cm-3. Caution should be used on the surface. Wheat residue buffers soil temperature fluctuations at depths of 0.5 inch to 1.5 inches. Lower soil temperatures with residue may reduce crop growth. For this reason, planting in the early part of the “planting window” is recommended. If possible, removing just a little of the residue from the row will instantly increase soil temperature in that area. Using a more aggressive coulter or row cleaners may move enough residue to increase soil temperature in the seed zone.

Soil Bulk Density

Differences in yield between no-till and conventional till fields seem to be influenced by bulk density, which is the mass of soil divided by the total volume it occupies. A compacted soil has a very high bulk

density. In a greenhouse study to determine the effect of soil bulk density on winter canola root growth, root biomass decreased linearly with increasing bulk density for both sandy and clay soils. This means that higher bulk densities could reduce winter canola root mass, which may reduce winter survival. Canola plants rely on carbohydrates stored in the root mass to survive the winter months. Therefore, careful attention needs to be paid to soil physical properties in no-till fields, especially young no-till fields (less than three years no-till) before seeding canola. It is used when seeding into a notill field with a high bulk density. It takes several years (more than three) for good soil structure to develop in no-till fields.

Yield of no-till winter canola is often influenced by the factors mentioned above. Yield can be competitive with conventional till fields once experience is gained with notill canola production; however, the risk for stand loss and yield loss is greater in no-till

Continued on page 23 u

Figure 1. Winter canola emerging through wheat residue. Hypocotyls are 0.5-inch to 1-inch longer than normal. Photo courtesy of Chad Godsey, Ph.D., Oklahoma State University.

Great Progress in the Great Plains

Researchers Strive to Increase Canola Bottom Lines and Sustainability

Michael Stamm, M.S.

Establishing a new crop takes time, patience, experience and ultimately, the almighty dollar. The National Canola Research Program (NCRP) has been a stable, important source of funding for research conducted on winter canola in the Great Plains region. As a result of the research and technology transfer activities carried out by the Great Plains Canola Research Program (GPCRP), winter canola is an emerging new crop.

Coordinated by Kansas State University, the GPCRP is a winter canola breeding and production management program. It fits the defined role of the NCRP as it supports research and extension efforts in the states of Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. Major emphasis has been placed on canola variety development, variety testing and productionrelated research questions.

A multifaceted technology transfer program using extension and research expertise in cooperation with industry personnel and growers is being implemented. University personnel participate in a number of field days and extension meetings, write agronomy production updates and give media interviews. Peer-reviewed journal articles and progress reports are important tools for delivering upto-date research findings to agriculture professionals interested in alternative crop rotations and bioenergy feedstock development.

Several canola production studies in the Great Plains are looking at harvest management, dual-purpose canola varieties for grain and grazing, canola growth under limited irrigation, the effect of residue removal on winter survival and winter canola variety development. Since they began, results generated from these studies have helped increase winter canola acres.

Direct Harvesting to Grazing

To better understand producer options for harvesting, swathing prior to combining versus direct harvesting were examined. Table 1 summarizes four site-years of data and indicates producers can safely implement either management strategy to successfully

harvest a canola crop. Swathing was significantly better than direct cutting in 2008 and 2009 near Stillwater, Okla. In 2009, direct cutting was significantly better than swathing at Hutchinson, Kan., and the treatments were equal near Manhattan, Kan. The two harvest methods had no significant effect on protein and oil contents.

Research on canola production under limited irrigation is critical to agriculture’s future on the High Plains. Because of decline in the water level of the Ogallalla Aquifer, producers may not be able to raise the crops they are accustomed to growing. Canola is being investigated for its potential as a water-efficient crop by New Mexico State University. Table 2 summarizes a study where two cultivars, ‘DKW 41-10’ and ‘Rally,’ were evaluated under six irrigation levels ranging from rainfed to 15 inches. Irrigation increased canola grain yield, but the yield response tapered at the top end of the irrigation levels. The two canola varieties slightly differed in their response. This study shows that in eastern New Mexico, a successful canola crop can be grown on 15 inches of irrigation. This is half the irrigation water required for crops like

corn. Additional data will provide details of water use patterns and water use efficiency of different canola varieties under multiple deficit irrigation management conditions. Many producers are interested in winter canola as a dual-purpose forage and grain crop. A simulated grazing study was conducted at Manhattan from 2006 to present andHutchinson in 2007 and 2009. Treatments included “pre” (prior to a series of killing freezes), “post” (following a series of killing freezes) and “spring.” Simulated grazing, no matter when it occurred, had a significant negative effect on winter survival and yield. Winter survival was reduced by 10 to 30 percent and grain yield was reduced 30 to 50 percent. However, grazing canola post-killing freezes increases the relative feed valueof forage by 75 units. The experimental line ‘KS4022’ has been identified as a potential dual-purpose canola cultivar because of its prostrate growth habit.

Cultivar Cultivation

The National Winter Canola Variety Trial or subsets of entries selected from it were grown at 15 locations in five states in the Great Plains region. Table 3 summarizes data

Table 1. Average winter canola grain yields (lb/ac), oil and protein (%), for swathed and direct harvested plots.

Table 2*. Winter canola yields (lb/ac) under limited irrigation near Clovis, NM.

Table 3. Total oil (%) and grain yield (lb/ac) for trials in Great Plains region 2010.

1Indicates irrigated location.

from the 2009-10 growing season. Location yield averages ranged from 1,104 to 3,463 pounds per acre and total oil averages ranged from 37.4 to 45.3 percent. These results are very comparable to yields experienced by growers under dryland and irrigated conditions. Results provide canola growers with a cultivar selection tool and facilitate identification of experimental lines for release as new cultivars in areas where they can be profitably marketed.

‘Riley,’ a winter canola cultivar with an oil content of 40.3 percent, was released by Kansas State University in 2010 and will be available to growers as foundation and certified seed this fall. ‘Riley’ has shown greater than 200 pounds per acre more yield than ‘Wichita’ across the region. ‘Riley’ is a direct result of investment in research funds provided through the NCRP.

The observation of more little yellow flowers indicates that a new crop is gaining the eyes and interests of farmers across the southern Great Plains. Through an efficient use of NCRP funding, researchers are presenting farmers an opportunity to increase their bottom lines and improve the sustainability of their farming operations, creating a valuable asset to be passed on for generations to come.

Mike Stamm, M.S., is a canola breeder at Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kan.

*Contributors to this article include Gary Cramer, William Heer, Jonathon Holman and Dale Ladd, Kansas State University; Abdel Berrada; Perry Cabot and Calvin Pearson, Colorado State University; Sangu Angadi and Mick O’Neill, New Mexico State University; Chad Godsey, Oklahoma State University; John Sij and Calvin Trostle, Texas A&M University; and Dick Auld, Texas Tech University.

No-Till Winter Canola Considerations

t Continued from page 21

fields compared with conventionally tilled fields. Producers can be successful planting no-till winter canola, but careful attention must be paid at planting time.

Tips for No-Till Production

• Give special attention to seeding depth. The seed should be placed at a ½- to 1inch deep. If the seedbed is uneven, err on the side of caution and place seed at 1 inch to ensure good seed-to-soil contact. Do not place seed in residue.

• If the residue is not evenly distributed across the soil surface (i.e., windrow behind the combine), do not attempt to plant in these conditions. This makes residue distribution at harvest important.

Perform a light tillage operation or burn the residue.

• Plant a winter canola variety that has excellent winter hardiness and low crown development.

• Burning immediately prior to seeding will increase winter survival but may not be an option for producers who value residue.

• Increase seeding rate by 15 to 20 percent. This is often recommended for most crops when a heavy amount of residue is present.

• Remove as much residue from the seed row as possible. Switching to a “wavy” coulter may increase soil disturbance and remove residue from the seed row.

• Make sure you have sufficient down force on row units so they function correctly.

• Get off the tractor often to check seeding rate and depth as conditions often change

within a field.

• Pay careful attention to the planting date and plant early in the “planting window” for your region.

• Avoid seeding winter canola into young no-till fields. Older fields (less than three years) will have better soil structure and lower bulk densities that will promote root growth.

These suggestions do not guarantee successful no-till winter canola production, but they should improve the chances of success.

Chad Godsey, Ph.D., is an oilseed specialist and assistant professor at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Okla.

Brian Caldbeck

TTransition to Row Cropping

Innovative Farmers Lead Charge to Combat Challenges in Winter Canola

he successful commercial production of any crop species depends on multiple factors – not the least being establishing a uniform stand. Familiar adages of “a good start is half the battle” or “well sown equates to half grown” are commonly used by farmers who are acutely aware of the importance of seeding operations as they pertain to final yields. Establishing a uniform stand of winter canola in the southern and Midwestern

U.S. is one of the most challenging tasks due to several factors: typically low soil moisture contents, narrow planting/emergence window of two to three weeks and late harvesting of high-residue crops such as corn, which delays and complicates winter canola seeding operations.

These factors alone or in combination constitute the single greatest impediment to large-scale adoption of winter canola in the relatively high-yielding environments of the south and Midwest. Unfortunately, very little effort has been focused on resolving these challenges, with most seeding recommendations today being either dated or rehashed from recommendations used in the spring canola regions of North America. A spring-

seeded canola crop may experience a 40° to 50°F temperature range from planting to harvest, while a winter canola crop will experience an 80° to 100°F temperature range within 12 to 14 weeks of planting. These temperature swings pose huge physical challenges to individual winter canola plants.

The primary site of lethal or at the very least, yield-robbing damage, is located between the soil surface and growing point of the plant. The distance between these two points can vary between genetics but is also heavily influenced by intra- and interrow seedling competition, residue interactions, unconsolidated seedbeds and compaction – all of which relate directly back to the seeding operation.

Innovation Tackles Impediments

In recent years, innovative farmers across the Midwest and southeast have focused heavily on developing planting systems to counter these challenges. The tremendous yield potential of modern winter canola, often referred to as the “ultimate flex crop,” has allowed growers to modify inter-row spacing and intra-row spacing/ seeding rates compared to configurations typically used on small grain seeders. A more consistent and targeted establishment of stand population is the primary aim. This objective is equally important across the entire winter canola region, whether farmers target an optimum plant population for limited moisture environments, focus on a canopy architecture designed to offset fungi like Sclerotinia white mold or adopt wide row-planting equipment to facilitate high-output, no-till or minimal till planting in high-residue environments.

The seed sizes and seeding rates of winter canola are generally not compatible with the calibration and metering systems of most planting and drilling equipment in the Midwest and southeast. The use of wider rows, particularly on relatively narrow seed beds resulting from single or double disc openers, necessitates even tighter calibration and metering standards.

This, in turn, requires a reduction in seeding rates to maintain acceptable intra-row plant stands essential for strong and wellpositioned crowns to develop. Equipment manufacturers and independent companies that specialize in developing after-market retrofits for more precise calibration and singling of winter canola seed have played a vital role in facilitating these efforts. The adoption of these innovations in planting technology is gaining popularity with likeminded growers across a wide region.

In addition to the primary objective of establishing a uniform and consistent stand from season to season, the use of wider rows and row crop planting equipment is providing additional opportunities for farmers. Winter canola has a high fall phosphate requirement for optimum yields but it is sensitive to direct row placement of fertilizer, especially with the low seed bed utilization limitations of disc seeders on relatively wider rows. Banding of fertilizer in a 2- by 2-inch configuration in row cropping has long proved to reduce fertilizer costs and enhance early root development. Some growers are also taking advantage of wider rows to side-dress winter canola crops in the spring with anhydrous ammonia, which is significantly cheaper than solid or liquid fertilizer. Uniformity of individual plants is also very important when it comes to timing decisions on fungicides, desiccants or swathing.

Winter canola has had a checkered history in the U.S. since the mid 1980s. The industry welcomes any and all efforts to develop modern cropping systems and planting technology that will allow growers to include winter canola in their rotations as a reliable and consistent crop, which can be established in a very tight window in challenging environments. It’s encouraging to see innovative growers who realize the value of winter canola on their farms leading the charge.

Brian Caldbeck is president of Caldbeck Consulting in Philpot, Ky. He may be reached at brian.caldbeck@caldbeckconsulting.com.

Winter canola establishing itself in Kentucky.

Photo courtesy of Greg Petrie.

National Canola Research Program

Clare Pierson

RFunding Success in One Region at a Time

esearch programs are the lifeblood of a growing and thriving agricultural system in the U.S. and for a crop as new as canola, they are vital. Research dollars can be put to many good uses in the canola industry – from development of new varieties to field trials that pinpoint the best planting dates and rotation cycles. What’s challenging is that different geographic regions have drastically different climates, diseases and insects, so the research must be customized.

The National Canola Research Program (NCRP) addresses this issue by offering competitive grants to five U.S. regions: North Central, Great Plains, Pacific Northwest, South and Midwest. In March 2011, NCRPfunded researchers from these regions gave updates on their projects before the U.S. Canola Association board meeting in Washington, D.C. They provided concrete examples of how precious research dollars are put to work.

North Central

Brian Jenks, Ph.D., weed scientist at North Dakota State University’s North Central Research Extension Center, reported that in 2010, his region continued to prioritize research that will help optimize canola yield, quality and profit, including disease (namely blackleg) and insect management and straight-harvesting. He also discussed the results of studies on the effect of Sharpen® and Valor® applied during pre-harvest on canola yield and seed quality; influence of seeding dates and production systems on canola; long-term canola rotations; 2010 Minnesota Production Centre field trials; plant breeding and disease resistance; canolabased resins for composites; and canola oil and reduced risk of breast cancer.

“The NCRP research money is important to maintain the growth and momentum that canola has experienced in the past 15-20 years,” Jenks said. “Canola has been agronomically important in breaking up pest cycles experienced in mono-cropping systems and provides growers a solid broadleaf crop with good economic potential. Canola has enjoyed significant growth and some farmers know a lot about growing it; however, the knowledge gained in one state doesn’t apply to all states. Differences in climate, weeds, diseases, insects,

transportation, processing issues, etc., vary from state to state and even within a state.

“We know that corn and soybean growers did not stop doing research after 20 years of existence,” he continued. “For a crop to continue being relevant and successful, we need innovative and continuous research to address production problems as they arise. Diseases, weeds and insects evolve over time and can overcome our current varieties or pest control measures.”

Jenks predicts that the north central region will have 1.5 million acres of canola by 2013.

Great Plains

Since 1994, nearly $2 million of NCRP funds have been invested in the Great Plains, which Mike Stamm, M.S., canola breeder at Kansas State University (KSU), said is critical to the development and evaluation of more adaptable winter canola varieties. The region’s priorities continue to be variety development and crop production research to facilitate the adoption of winter canola as a viable rotational crop for the southern Great Plains and High Plains. Stamm predicts 500,000 acres of canola will be planted in the region by 2014.

“NCRP funding is vital to the Great Plains because it links together researchers from seven states who have profound interests in increasing winter canola production and disseminating the benefits of canola oil,” he said. “It is obvious that without the support of the NCRP, canola research in the region would be far less advanced.”

Stamm reported that regional research highlights were KSU’s introduction of a new winter canola variety, ‘Riley,’ in 2010; on-farm canola crushing by Colorado State University; the highest yields ever recorded in Texas in 2009-10; and identification of preferred methods of harvesting in Kansas and Nebraska.

Pacific Northwest

The Pacific Northwest canola research program was given $145,000 in 2010 – about $72,000 of which went to four new studies, according to Jack Brown, Ph.D., professor of plant breeding and genetics at the University of Idaho.

The studies seek to determine the best planting dates and timing of limited irrigation to improve yields of fall-planted canola; investigate different canola cultivars in Montana; evaluate spring canola as a rotational crop in northwestern Montana; and develop biennial, early-planted winter canola in the Pacific Northwest. Brown identified stand establishment, seed placement and maintaining seed zone moisture as the major hurdles in growing winter canola in the region.

He also discussed the development of an ensiling system called Canolage™ for cattle feed. Regional canola experts hope to determine the quality and quantity of silage that can be obtained from winter canola crops at different planting dates from spring to fall, with the ultimate goal of increasing the value of winter canola.

South

Chittaranjan Kole, Ph.D., director of research at the Institute of Nutraceutical Research at Clemson University, reported that his team has been working on “pyramiding” genes of canola varieties to control for robust and durable disease and insect resistance as well as water and temperature tolerance. Special attention is being given to finding a blackleg resistant variety adaptable to the southern region.

Midwest

Mike Schmidt, Ph.D., associate professor of plant breeding and genetics at Southern Illinois University, said his region continues to collaborate on winter canola cultivar improvement and testing – specifically, obtaining locations for winter testing and determining the best cultural practices regarding planting dates, fertilizer application and pest control.

Schmidt said if just 25 percent of the region’s 3.8 million wheat acres used canola in their rotation, it would result in 850,000 acres of canola. His prediction echoes the sentiments of his colleagues in other regions: canola acreage is poised for significant growth and NCRP funding will help it get there.

Clare Pierson is associate editor of U.S. Canola Digest.

CANOLA COOKS

Summer is grilling season, no doubt. While it may be tempting to rip open that package of hot dogs or burgers, why not shake things up a bit with something just as delicious, but much healthier? This recipe for Grilled Salmon over Lentil Salad with Walnut Vinaigrette is perfect for lunch, dinner, a picnic or a barbecue. Your waistline, heart and taste buds will thank you!

This delicious and nutritious meal is easy to make and easy to enjoy. Courtesy of Carla Hall, finalist on Bravo’s “Top Chef” Seasons 5 and 8 and All-Stars Fan Favorite in March 2011, this recipe calls for canola oil in both a marinade and vinaigrette. Canola oil allows the flavors of Dijon mustard and fresh herbs to shine while providing heart-smart omega-3 fat along with the salmon and walnuts.

According to Hall, the marinade doesn’t have a lot of acid, so it’s perfect for marinating the salmon for up to 10 hours before grilling. Consider placing the salmon and marinade in a resealable bag before work and cooking it when you get home. As another time-saver, the components of the lentil salad can be made up to a day ahead of time and tossed with the vinaigrette at the last minute or 2 hours before serving.

“Cooking fish is easy once you know a few tricks,” Hall says. “A lot of people have fish fears, which is unfortunate because it’s a healthy addition to any diet and tickyboo to prepare.”

For example, when selecting fish, she says look for sheen, not slime. The fish should be intact with the flesh springing back upon touch. If the fish requires deboning, Hall advises using tweezers. If it requires marinating or thawing, do so in the refrigerator.

How Much Fish to Buy

Whole round fish: ¾-1 lb per person

Dressed/cleaned: ½-¾ lb per person

Fillets or steaks: ¹ ³ -½ lb per person

Cooked fish should be opaque, not translucent, Hall noted. Flaking generally indicates that the fish is overcooked. Be careful grilling as fish fillets only takes a few minutes on each side.

For other fish tips and Hall’s complete “Go Fish with Canola Oil” recipe collection and step-by-step instructional videos, go to www.canolainfo.org.

Clare Pierson is associate editor of U.S. Canola Digest.

Go Fish with Canola Oil for Your Summer Barbecue

Clare Pierson

Grilled Salmon over Lentil Salad with Walnut Vinaigrette

4 salmon fillets (4 oz portions), skin removed

MARINADE

2 Tbsp Dijon mustard

2 Tbsp canola oil

2 sprigs fresh tarragon, pulled and roughly chopped

1 clove garlic, minced

LENTIL SALAD

1 cup dry brown or green lentils, rinsed (or 1½ cups canned lentils, rinsed)

1 bay leaf

1. In medium bowl, combine mustard, canola oil, tarragon and garlic for marinade. Place salmon in marinade and gently toss until thoroughly coated. Place fish in resealable bag in refrigerator for at least 1 hour.

2. Heat grill to 375 °F, when it’s too hot to hold hand above coals for more than 5 seconds.

3. In 5-quart pot, bring 3 cups of water to a boil. Add lentils, garlic cloves and rosemary sprig. Cook lentils until just tender, about 30 minutes. Strain in colander.

4. In plastic bowl or cup with fitted lid, combine red onion, garlic, mustard, vinegar, canola oil, walnuts and pepper. Shake

2 garlic cloves, peeled and smashed

1 rosemary sprig

1 medium carrot, finely diced

1 celery stalk, finely diced

¼ cup red onion, very finely diced

¼ cup parsley, finely chopped

1 Tbsp chopped tarragon

WALNUT VINAIGRETTE

2 Tbsp red onion, minced

2 cloves garlic

1 Tbsp Dijon mustard

¼ cup rice or champagne vinegar

½ cup canola oil

½ cup walnuts, toasted and coarsely chopped

¼ tsp pepper

Lemon wedges for garnish

until thoroughly mixed and emulsified. Season with pepper.

5. In large bowl, toss lentils, carrots, celery and red onions together. Stir in enough vinaigrette, about ¼ cup, to coat lentil mixture, and store rest in refrigerator for up to one week. Toss in fresh parsley and tarragon.

6. Spray grill rack lightly and cautiously with canola oil cooking spray, then carefully place salmon fillets on hot grill 2 inches apart. Cook on each side 3-4 minutes at diagonal angle to grill rack for professionallooking grill marks. Remove salmon from grill and serve over lentil salad. Garnish with lemon wedges, if desired.

Yield: 4 servings. Serving size: 1 fillet.

RUBISCO SEEDS

(270) 903-4994

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