Opportunities Canola (spring and winter) could be an important crop to help Michigan diversify its agriculture, complement its cropping systems, and maintain a profitable and vibrant rural sector. Canola has the potential to improve Michigan’s economy, health, environment and agricultural systems: - Hybrid varieties give high yield potential for farmers (over 3000 lbs/acre) - Value-added products for rural economic activity (jobs) - Excellent vegetable oil - Environmentally friendly bio-based oils and fuels (carbon sequestration) - Winter canola excellent cover crop C a n o l a ( s p r i n g a n d w i n t e r ) c o u l d b e a n i m p o r t a n t c r o p t o h e l p M i c h i g a n d i v e r s i f y i t s a g r i c u l t u r e, c o m p l e m e n t i t s c r o p p i n g s y s t e m s, a n d m a i n t a i n a p r o f i t a b l e a n d v i b r a n t r u r a l s e c t o r. C a n o l a h a s t h e p o t e n t i a l t o i m p r o v e o u r e c o n o m y, h e a l t h, e n v i r o n m e n t a n d a g r i c u l t u r a l s y s t e m s : H y b r i d v a r i e t i e s g i v e h i g h y i e l d p o t e n t i a l f o r f a r m e r s ( o v e r l b s / a c r e ) V a l u e - a d d e d p r o d u c t s f o r r u r a l e c o n o m i c a c t i v i t y ( j o b s ) E x c e l l e n t v e g e t a b l e o i l E n v i r o n m e n t a l l y f r i e n d l y b i o - b a s e d o i l s a n d f u e l s ( c a r b o n s e q u e s t r a t i o n ) Canola hybrids have potential for high yields (hybrid canola varieties are only several years old – like corn around 1960) Canola Research in Michigan Russell Freed, Michigan state University yearsBushels/acre Percent increase Average canola yields for CanadaAverage canola yields for Canada In 2002 Canada planted 18% acreage as hybrids. In % were hybrids Today over 90%. Hybrid Vigor in canola is key to high yields! Challenges -Infrastructure both at the farm level and in the market system are lacking - No local markets for canola - Producer education on agronomic aspects is lacking - Economics, profitability and price stability of oil for the bio-diesel market are unknown -Varieties –High yielding winter-hardy varieties are limited – very few plant breeders working on hybrid canola (spring and winter) - Best production systems and practices for the region are unknown - Production in tiled fields may cause root clogging of tile lines Cultivar Lake City, MI 2010 Marion, MI 2009 INVIGOR INVIGOR DKL DKL TRIAL MEAN41.5 (24 entries)44.5 (36 entries) LSD Table 3. Spring canola yields (bu/acre) at two sites in 2009 and Table 1. Canadian 5 year ( ) canola yields. Cultivar SITRO KRONOS12200 CWH KS WICHITA HORNET Trial mean Table 2. Winter canola yields (bu) and percent winter survival for 3 years ( ) at East Lansing, MI. Winter-hardiness is an issue for winter canola Spring canola provides good yields % Winter survival Yield bu/acre