Canola Background

• Canola is a special type of oilseed rape that has less than 2% erucic acid in the oil.
• This allows canola oil to be used as a cooking oil and the meal as a high quality protein for livestock.
• In 1985, the FDA ruled that rapeseed oil (Canola) is safe for human consumption.
• Canola oil contains 6 percent saturated fat, the lowest level of any available vegetable oil.
• The United States currently imports 2 million acres of production each year.
• Winter canola is under USDA oil seed crop price support program.

U.S. Canola Acreage - 2005

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Canola Official Grain Grading Guide

Canola No. 1 Canada

Standard of Quality

Variety - Any variety of canola equal to acceptance reference varieties
Degree of Soundness - Reasonably well matured, sweet, of good natural color

Admixtures of Foreign Material

Stones - 0.05%
Ergot - 0.05%
Sclerota - 0.1%
Insect Excreta - 0.1%
Total Conspicuous Admixtures - 1.0%
Inconspicuous Admixture - 5.0%

Maximum Damage

Heated - @0.1%
Distinctly Green- 2.0%
Total Damage - 3.0%

Standard of Cleanliness

Commercially pure seed; may contain not more than 1.0% of other seeds that are conspicuous and that are not readily separable from canola, to be accessed as dockage.

Canola No. 2 Canada

Standard of Quality

Variety - Any variety of canola equal to acceptable reference varieties
Degree of Soundness - Fairly well matured, sweet, of reasonably good natural color

Admixtures of Foreign Material

Stones - 0.05%
Ergot - 0.05%
Sclerota - 0.2%
Insect Excreta - 0.2%
Total Conspicuous Admixtures - 1.5%
Inconspicuous Admixture - 5.0%

Maximum Damage

Heated - @0.5%
Distinctly Green- 6.0%
Total Damage - 10.0%

Standard of Cleanliness

Commercially pure seed; may contain not more than 1.5% of other seeds that are conspicuous and that are not readily separable from canola, to be accessed as dockage.

Canola No.3 Canada

Standard of Quality

Variety - Any variety
Degree of Soundness - May have the natural odor associated with low-quality seed, but not distinctly sour, musty, rancid, not having any odor that would indicate serious deterioration

Admixtures of Foreign Material

Stones - 0.05%
Ergot - 0.05%
Sclerota - 0.3%
Insect Excreta - 0.3%
Total Conspicuous Admixtures - 2.0%
Inconspicuous Admixture - 5.0%

Maximum Damage

Heated - 2.0%
Distinctly Green- 20.0%
Total Damage - 20.0%

Standard of Cleanliness

Commercially pure seed; may contain not more than 2.0% of other seeds that are conspicuous and that are not readily separable from canola, to be accessed as dockage.

If specifications for No. 3 Canada are not met grade (based on specific damage)

Standard of Quality

Variety -
Degree of Soundness -

Admixtures of Foreign Material

Stones - Up to 2.5% Canola rejected account stones over 2.5% Canola Sample Salvage
Ergot - Canola Sample Canada Account Ergot
Sclerota - Canola Sample Canada Account Admixture
Insect Excreta - Canola Sample Canada Account Excreta
Total Conspicuous Admixtures - Canola Sample Canada Account Admixture
Inconspicuous Admixture - Up to 50.0% Canola Sample Canada Account Admixture over 50.0% Refuse Screenings

Maximum Damage

Heated - Canola Sample Canada Account Heated
Distinctly Green- Canola Sample Canada Account Damaged
Total Damage - Canola Sample Canada Account Damaged

Standard of Cleanliness

Canola Sample Canada Account Admixture

Major Canola Benefits

• Provide the Oklahoma Wheat Grower with a winter broadleaf rotational crop.
• Allow clean up of difficult to control broadleaves and grasses in current wheat production areas.
• Produce a profitable alternative crop.
• Potentially improve yield and quality of winter wheat planted after a canola rotation.
  

Benefits for Developing Canola for OK

• Canola would give wheat growers the opportunity to produce a commodity that is not tied to the grain market. Sorghum and corn are both tied to the wheat market. Canola is tied to an oil-seed market.
• The use of current small grain equipment reduces investment costs.
• A rotational will help break up pest cycles.
• A canola rotation provides an opportunity to control difficult grass weed species found in wheat.
• Potentially improve yield and quality of winter wheat planted after a canola rotation. Limited research has shown a 15% increase in winter wheat yields following canola.
• Development of energy markets.
  

Effects of Canola on Subsequent Crops

Positive Impact

• Excellent rotational crop for wheat. See a reduction in wheat diseases because canola is not a host for cereal diseases.
• Canola actually kills certain cereal pathogens such as take-all root rot due to release inhibitory compounds during decomposition.
• Commercial field data from Canada confirm wheat yield increase following canola.

Negative Impact

• Canola provides less trash cover than average cereal crop. Less residue and breaks down quicker.