The thought of having a winter annual broadleaf crop has been a topic of many coffee shop discussions. Something that wheat could be rotated with and would be a program crop with price support payments if the economics fell into the tank.

While canola has been produced in the United States, it has not been able to survive our harsh Oklahoma winters. Recently there has been some research done to help provide producers with canola’s that are tolerant to our winters. In fact there are three current winter tolerant varieties available and Kansas State University is ready to release a fourth variety. Monsanto is currently working with three varieties that happen to be Roundup Ready releases and also winter tolerant. 

So why would researchers and producers be interested in Canola? One such idea is one that comes from the coffee shop talk. Producers need a crop that is not tied to the grain markets. As producers look at corn, grain sorghum and soybeans as rotations for wheat, they all are tied to grain markets. If a producers looks at canola, he will find the market tied to the oil seed markets.

Canola utilizes small grains equipment that we currently have on hand. We use a drill to establish the canola stand and we can harvest canola standing in the field with just a few combine adjustments. With some duck tape to cover holes, we can utilize our grain trucks to haul the crop to town and utilize the local grain elevators to store the crop if need be. The grain elevator will need to be willing to accept the crop, but it does appear there will be buyers for the canola crop in northwestern Oklahoma. 

A rotational crop allows producers to break weed and disease cycles associated with wheat production. When these cycles are broken, producers can deliver a higher quality crop with less dockage to his grain dealer. There is also limited research, which suggests a wheat yield increases following a canola rotation. OSU is currently investigating this with several field trials out this fall.

 

To Plant Canola	Not to Plant Canola
Clean up weedy wheat fields	It tends to shatter.
More profit than wheat.	You might have to swath it.
Breakup wheat disease cycles.	It doesn't like low pH.
Don't need new equipment.	You have to spray for aphids.
Improve future wheat yields & quality.	Seed costs to much.
No green bugs.	I don't know how to grow.
In state crusher with local delivery points	I might not get a stand.
Multi-peril crop insurance available.	I can't graze it.
Enjoy trying something new.	My landlord won't like it.
Provides broadleaf winter rotation option.	Doesn't work well no-till after wheat
Production education available.	Requires more management than wheat.
Market demand for healthy oil.
Dire need for rotation with wheat .