News

Canola acres on the rebound

U.S. canola acres are on the rebound.

According to USDA, American farmers planted 2.2 million acres this year, compared to 1.7 million in 2016.

Minnesota Canola Council president Beth Nelson says momentum for the crop has been building in her state and across the country.

“The last four years we’ve actually seen a 138 percent increase from our low of 14,500 acres in 2014, up to 34,500 acres this season.”

Minnesota is among the top five U.S. canola-growing states, with North Dakota producing more than 80 percent of total production.

Nelson tells Brownfield she expects another acreage bump next year.

“We’re not certain if we’ll get to our high, which was 200,000 acres in 1998.  But we’re very comfortable that will continue to grow those acres back up to at least 100,000 acres in the state.”

She says there are several factors contributing to the increase in canola.

“We do have some new varieties.  We also have the Hallock crushing facility right there in the region, so that helps because we have a local destination.”

Nelson says farmers are also becoming more interested in crop diversity, pointing to a wheat, soybean, canola rotation that works nicely in the Upper Midwest.

The Minnesota Canola Council is hosting a symposium addressing management strategies on December sixth at the Roseau Community Center.