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A new golden color is spreading on the PlainsBy Jennifer M. Latzke Across the High Plains it's not uncommon to see a field of yellow flowers peeking out amongst the wheat and corn on the prairie. But for many areas this year, instead of a traditional sunflower crop, those fields will be filled with the yellow petals of winter canola blooms. Similar production as winter wheat Winter canola is quickly becoming a popular oilseed crop in the southern High Plains--from the Panhandle of Texas, to the southern counties of Nebraska. Most farmers find it a convenient rotational crop with winter wheat. And, as the United States currently imports 75 percent of its canola oil each year, there is a domestic market for the oil and meal. Mike Stamm, a canola breeder for Kansas State University and Oklahoma State University, explained the benefits of growing winter canola are numerous. Using canola as a rotational crop allows producers to break weed and disease cycles that can be found in continuous wheat production. Anecdotal reports show wheat yields increase 10 to 25 percent after a canola crop when compared to more common crops, he added. Winter canola's popularity is growing, and Stamm should know. He is the coordinator of the joint canola breeding program between KSU and OSU. In 2005, his position became jointly funded between KSU and OSU because of the rising interest in winter canola production. A research and Extension team is being coordinated to answer producer questions about the crop. Production of winter canola is similar to winter wheat on the Plains. Both crops are planted and harvested in the same seasons, and canola uses much of the same planting equipment as small grains, with some modifications for seed size. Stamm cautioned producers that winter canola is more management intensive than winter wheat and may require as much attention as growing irrigated corn. "If they're planting canola for the first time, pick a weed-free seedbed on good ground," he said. "Start small, and don't get too big too fast. Learn the crop's growth cycle." Canola can grow in practically any field, but it won't tolerate fields that have poor drainage, or are prone to standing water. Winter canola is an ideal crop in conservation tillage, but growers should take care to maintain one-half to one-inch planting depth and ensure good seed to soil contact with moist soil, according to Oklahoma State University research. Insect concerns Pest pressures are a big concern for canola growers, Stamm said. "The two major pests in the springtime are turnip aphids and army cutworm," he said. "Populations of turnip aphid recently have been observed in Oklahoma. Turnip aphid infestations can cause major problems this time of year in Kansas if southerly winds blow regularly and temperatures remain warm with little moisture. Left uncontrolled, turnip aphids can completely devastate a canola stand in the early spring." Army cutworms have been observed in some Kansas canola fields as early as March 10, Stamm said. While the cutworms were small and damage was undetectable, canola is already large enough in some areas that damage may not have occurred. If canola is smaller, producers should be aware. "Larvae hide in the loose soil at the base of plants, emerging to feed in the evening," Stamm said. "Unlike some other cutworms, only above-ground plant parts are eaten. Cutworms also can be found underneath the previous year's crop residue, or under dead leaves at the base of the rosette." Scouting fields is the key to controlling pests, Stamm said. OSU suggests scouting for aphids in a diagonal pattern across the field, sampling three consecutive plants at 10 stops every 25 yards, he added. "To prevent economic losses, aphids should be managed when there are 100 to 200 aphids per plant," Stamm said. "Estimated yield loss is 0.5 pounds per aphid on each plant." Growers should treat canola with an average of two or more army cutworm larvae per foot of row, Stamm said. "Army cutworms find canola very palatable, and 4 to 5 per square foot cause severe damage to stands," he said. "Stands can be completely lost if left untreated. Look for foliar tissue damage and severed green leaves lying on the ground as evidence of feeding. Damage may initially be more visible in areas of the field where stands are thin." Disease pressures Stamm said diseases in canola aren't a major concern in the region, but that as acres continue to grow disease pressures will become more prevalent. Canola shares some diseases with more common High Plains crops, such as cotton, alfalfa, soybeans and sunflowers. According to the Great Plains Canola Production Handbook, published by KSU, OSU and the University of Nebraska, wheat, oats, barley, corn and sorghum all can be grown either the year before or after canola with limited concern. Canola and cotton can share Rhizoctonia and Fusarium root rots, so a year should separate the two crops. And, alfalfa, soybeans and sunflowers also share Sclerotinia stem rot, and should have two to three years separating them from canola. Stamm said Sclerotinia, or "white mold," could become a problem if there are warm and wet conditions while canola is flowering. So, if a grower is irrigating his canola field, he should minimize the number of passes during the flowering stage, he explained. Stamm said Aster Yellows is probably the most common disease in winter canola in Kansas and Oklahoma. "The disease is vectored by the aster leaf hopper and caused by a phytoplasma, a plant pathogenic, bacteria-like micro-organism," he said. "Plants infected with aster yellows fail to set pods, and produce blue-green, sterile, and hollow bladders in place of normal pods. No disease management strategies are available, but generally less than 2 percent of plants are infected." In northern parts of the High Plains, Blackleg is the most serious threat to canola, but Kansas and Oklahoma growers don't have to worry about it at this time, Stamm said. "The most important management method to control Blackleg is excluding it from an area," Stamm said. "This is accomplished by planting only disease-free certified seed with a fungicide that is affective against Blackleg." Weed management Roundup Ready winter canola varieties are on the market, and Stamm said those cultivars are a good option for producers who are facing broadleaf weed problems in their fields. "They are best adapted to south central and southwest Kansas, and across Oklahoma and the Texas Panhandle," he said. Before planting winter canola in the fall, though, growers should be aware of the field's herbicide application history. "A large number of commonly used herbicides have lengthy plant-back restrictions for canola, especially the sulfonylurea (SU) products widely used in wheat," Stamm said. "Sumner, a variety developed by K-State, is tolerant to SU herbicide carryover and can be planted in the fall following application of a SU." Stamm cautions growers not to apply a SU over the top of the Sumner variety, though. The agronomic advantages to winter canola are many, but economic advantages are there as well. "Most of the canola grown in the U.S. is spring canola, and it is harvested in August and September," Stamm said. "Winter canola is harvested in the late spring when prices are at the peak of the market. Producers in the southern Great Plains may then take advantage of the higher price." The March 14 market price for canola was $12.15 per bushel at the Producers Cooperative Oil Mill in Oklahoma City, and has been as high as $15 per bushel shortly before that. "Canola could become the next 'wonder crop' for producers facing shortages of irrigation water because it will perform exceptionally well under limited irrigation," Stamm said. "If adequate moisture was available during the winter, then a single irrigation would be needed in the fall to establish the crop." Jennifer M. Latzke can be reached by phone at 620-227-1807 or by e-mail at jlatzke@hpj.com. 3/31/08 Date: 3/27/08
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