Agricultural News
Is Canola Turning Into Black Gold for Oklahoma Wheat Farmers?
Mon, 07 Jun 2010 7:36:20 CDT
As farmers harvest the 80,000 acres of Winter Canola planted across Oklahoma last fall, it's with mixed feelings. They are delighted with the yields and potential net returns of the crop as canola prices remain above $7.00 a bushel while local cash wheat prices sink ever closer to $3.50 a bushel. They are a little unhappy- wishing they had a few more acres of winter canola and few less of winter wheat here in 2010.
Canadian County Extension Educator Brad Tipton has been working with several farmers in his county as they have included winter canola on some of their wheat acres in the cycle that is coming to a close with this harvest season. Tipton offers the following thoughts about canola harvest in his county:
"Wheat producers in Canadian County are finding gold on those red clay hillsides. McDowell Farms south of Banner direct cutting two fields of winter canola yielding 30 and 40.3 bushels respectively. The crop grossed them $288.74 per acre after a 1.80 % dockage for foreign material. The crop was hauled directly to Producers Oil in OKC and had moisture averaging 7.5% (10% is the maximum moisture accepted). According to OSU Extension Enterprise Budgets, the average total operating expenses for winter canola is around $108 per acre. Assuming no land expense, this year's winter canola crop has netted the farm approximately $180.74 per acre after expenses with their 35 bushel per acre harvest average. McDowell Farms planted a Roundup Ready Dekalb winter canola variety called DKW 46-15.
"Zum Mallen Farms of El Reno 'pushed' their winter canola and thrashed out 39.77 bushel per acre on a quarter section yesterday, leaving another 160 acres to cut today. They delivered directly to Producers Oil in OKC and grossed $330.28 per acre after dockage of 1.00% dockage for foreign material. Average moisture on four and a half loads was 8.2%. Using $180 per acre for their total operating expenses they would have netted approximately $222.28 per acre in profit on this year's canola crop. Zum Mallen Farms planted a Cropland Roundup Ready variety called HyClass 115W.
"Comparing this year's profitability of winter canola to wheat, it is quickly apparent that Zum Mallen Farms would have to cut an 85 bushel per acre wheat crop at $4.00 per bushel to even come close to what is being banked with winter canola. Plus, that assumes zero dockage for foreign material in the wheat crop. Good luck with that this year!"
The picture here is canola being dumped from the combine to a grain trailer for transportation on to PCOM in Oklahoma City- this load coming from the McDowell Farms south of Banner.
We have a series of pictures for you to see here on our website from the Zum Mallen Farms provided by Brad Tipton. We have them in four parts- Click here for Part One, Click here for Part Two, click here for Part Three of the Canola Harvest Series in Canadian County and click here for our fourth and final segment of pictures of this winter canola harvest in Canadian County, June 5, 2010.
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI
Top Agricultural News
More Headlines...
