Canola Viable Alternative Crop in the Great Plains
In late April, people in central Kansas may wonder what crop produces bright yellow blossoms.
John Haas, who farms near Larned, has responded to questions about his bright fields since he started growing canola about seven years ago. Haas, who graduated from K-State with a degree in agronomy, enthusiastically explains the benefits of canola.
In fact, he enjoyed promoting the new Kansas crop so much that he got involved with the U.S. Canola Association (USCA). He is the Great Plains region board member and current president of the organization. The USCA mission is to increase U.S. canola production to meet the growing public demand for healthy products.
“Canola is the healthiest of all food oils,” said Haas. “It has no trans fats and doesn’t hydrogenate. Now, we import 70 percent of our canola from Canada.”
“Canola also is the best oil for biodiesel,” said Haas. “It has a low cloud point, which is the temperature that biodiesel coagulates.”
As a producer, he likes that canola works well as a rotation crop with wheat, and it can be grown with existing tools. There are just over one million acres planted to canola in the United States, with North Dakota as the major area of canola production.
His operation has been strictly no-till since 1980. He grows wheat, alfalfa, corn, sorghum, soybeans, sunflowers − basically everything but cotton. Canola can be planted no-till in milo stubble, and wheat plants easily in canola stubble. Haas noted an 8 to 12 percent yield boost in wheat planted after canola.
Haas sees canola as a viable crop for the Great Plains of Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. And starting in fall 2006, crop insurance is available for canola growers.
“In the Great Plains, we grew about 60,000 acres in 2006 compared to about 20,000 acres in 2005 and 3,000 acres in 2004,” said Haas.
“European canola varieties didn’t adapt to the Kansas climate. K-State has done a super job in developing winter canola that can be grown in Kansas. Mike Stamm will take it to the next level.”
Stamm, also a K-State agronomy graduate, was hired jointly by K-State and Oklahoma State University in 2005 as a canola breeder. He is stationed at the Manhattan campus.
Stamm and other K-State researchers collaborated with scientists at OSU and the University of Nebraska, Lincoln to produce the Great Plains Canola Production Handbook. It’s a 32-page manual full of information and color photos to help producers make informed decisions about planting canola.
In July 2006, Stamm helped with presentations in Dodge City, Kan., and Enid and Altus, Okla., on winter canola production and utilization.
“We are seeing an increased visibility and interest in canola,” said Stamm. “There are 57 entries in 23 states in the National Winter Canola Variety Trials (NWCVT) – up from 36 entries last year. Eleven of those are in Kansas and Oklahoma.”
“Ten canola breeding programs in the United States and Europe supply entries for the NWCVT,” said Stamm. “All the data collected from the trials are shared to help make marketing decisions on the best varieties to promote.”
Mike Stamm
785-532-3871
^In the photo: John Haas grows canola on his family farm near Larned. He also serves as president of the U.S. Canola Association.
Identify Wheat on the Spot
K-State researchers are developing a way to identify wheat characteristics within seconds on the spot – whether that spot is in the field, on the truck, at the elevator, or at the port. The “Lab on a Chip” will allow the user to identify wheat’s variety, protein and moisture levels, and quality traits. Instead of waiting two to three days, farmers will be able to check their crop during harvest and segregate it for protein or moisture or quality to improve consistency and the price they get.
George Lookhart
785-532-5321
Forage Choices for Drought Conditions
K-State Research and Extension agents provided advice to the state’s farmers on testing forages during the hot, dry 2006 summer season. Questions ranged from using alternative forages to ammoniating wheat straw and planting forage sorghum hybrids. An agent in Marshall County reported he evaluated 35 cow herds and estimated the economic benefit to farmers in his county at $200,000, based on potential death loss to poor forages.
Dale Fjell
785-532-5776