1. 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 3 0 0 0 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 2005-200932.026 2000-200425.3 1995-199924.9 1990-199423.2 1986-198922.6 Average canola yields for CanadaAverage canola yields for Canada In 2002 Canada planted 18% acreage as hybrids. In 2005 50% 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 544045.948.0 INVIGOR 844045.247.0 DKL 30-4246.942.0 DKL 72-5545.945.0 TRIAL MEAN41.5 (24 entries)44.5 (36 entries) LSD 058.04.3 Table 3. Spring canola yields (bu/acre) at two sites in 2009 and 2010. Table 1. Canadian 5 year (1986-2009) canola yields. Cultivar201020092008201020092008 SITRO933243493043 KRONOS12200 CWH 0815869 KS 402253773273 WICHITA95404234 HORNET57104136 Trial mean913422412921 Table 2. Winter canola yields (bu) and percent winter survival for 3 years (2008-2010) at East Lansing, MI. Winter-hardiness is an issue for winter canola Spring canola provides good yields % Winter survival Yield bu/acre