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Rapid expansion of winter canola acres fuels interest in Canola U event
Wheat growers throughout the Southern Plains continue to register for the upcoming Canola U event scheduled for Feb. 28 at the Cherokee Strip Conference Center in Enid, Okla. At present, about half of the available slots for attending the free educational seminar are booked, though there is still plenty of room for additional attendees to sign up if you move quickly. Last year's two Canola U events drew approximately 250 farmers, and it is expected that the upcoming third event will draw a similar or even larger audience, given the interest among wheat growers in growing winter canola as a rotational crop. "Whether you are a first-time grower or have several winter canola crops under your belt already, Canola U will help you sharpen your management skills," says Jeff Scott, a wheat and canola producer from Pond Creek, Okla., who also serves as president of the Great Plains Canola Association. "You will have educational opportunities at the event to tap into, regardless of your skill level as a canola grower." Scott, who will be an instructor at the upcoming Canola U event teaching advanced agronomic aspects of production, is currently growing his ninth canola crop on his 4,000-acre farming operation. "By planting winter canola, we've been able to clean up some very weedy fields as well as break up disease cycles that hurt our wheat," he says. "We are currently growing one year of winter canola followed by one year of winter wheat, then rotating back to canola again. This rotation is working very well for us." Scott says that the rotation has worked wonders for his wheat crop. He has seen wheat yields increase, on average, about 20 bushels per acre. Dockage at the elevator has dropped to "near zero," as have discounts for foreign material in his wheat. "Because of the rotation with winter canola, I have more dollars from my wheat going directly into my pocket, rather than have that money siphoned off by quality discounts," the Oklahoma farmer says. "Our canola yields average about 2,000 pounds per acre--even with this past year's drought, we harvested 1,700 pounds." However, Scott is quick to point out that winter canola by itself is more profitable than growing wheat. "I started growing winter canola nine years ago in the hopes of breaking even with it," he explains. "Now, I feel that canola is my primary cash crop, while wheat is my catch--or rotational--crop that I grow so I can rotate back to winter canola." Scott recently returned from a trip to Washington State, where he is working with farmers, seed dealers and industry representatives to introduce winter canola into that geography. "Word of our success with winter canola on the southern Plains has spread 1,700 miles to the Pacific Northwest," he observes. "They need more rotational options for wheat out there as well, and they are very interested in what we're doing here with winter canola." Another instructor at the upcoming Canola U event on Feb. 28 in Enid is Randall Varnell, who is assistant manager of Wheeler Brothers Grain in Kingfisher, Okla. As an elevator operator, Varnell sees firsthand every day the magic that a rotation with winter canola can bring to a wheat harvest. "On average, we're seeing wheat yields jump nine to 10 bushels per acre when wheat follows canola," Varnell says. "Foreign material is almost nothing, and we've seen dockages drop from an average of 1 to 1.5 percent down to .2 or .3 percent." Varnell adds that since winter canola was first planted in Kingfisher County four years ago, acreage has more than doubled every year. "The wheat growers who have worked winter canola into a rotation have been very pleased with the results--I don't think a single farmer regrets trying winter canola." Sponsored by High Plains Journal and the DEKALB brand, Canola U is an educational seminar featuring multiple presentations in a classroom format that cover key aspects of planting and managing winter canola. Small classroom size ensures a relaxed learning environment that is conducive to asking questions and getting those questions answered. Each class is taught by experienced growers, academic and industry experts who are well-versed in winter canola agronomics, financing, crop insurance, marketing and processing. There is no charge to attend Canola U, and lunch is provided. To register, RSVP at 1-855-4CANOLA (1-855-422-6652) or register online at www.canolau.com . Individual results may vary.
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