Agricultural News
Short-Term and Long-Term Prospects for Canola Looking Up, Sholar Says
Thu, 04 Apr 2013 17:00:47 CDT
If you talk to anyone who has even a little experience with canola in Oklahoma, you'll hear the same thing: there's a tremendous amount of potential for continued expansion and growth.
One of the biggest advocates of canola in Oklahoma is Dr. Ron Sholar of the Great Plains Canola Association. The GCPA sponsored the recent Canola College event in Apache which attracted about 300 new and experienced canola growers. Sholar spoke with Radio Oklahoma Network's Ron Hays about how the crop is shaping up this year.
"What a difference a year makes. This time last year, of course, the crop was blooming and we were feeling just elated about the potential. It's been a tough year. It was a very dry fall for this crop and the winter hasn't been nearly as favorable as we would have liked, but with the recent rains we've had and the rain we're getting right now, we're a lot more excited and the growers are feeling a lot more optimistic than they were even ten days ago."
Sholar says the enthusiasm of potential growers to learn more about the crop has led to a series of canola tour stops that will be made across the state beginning next Mionday. There are 13 stops on the tour stretching from Jackson and Kiowa Counties all the way to Ottawa County. Among those who will speak and offer their thoughts about the 2013 crop are; Josh Bushong; OSU Extension Canola Specialist; Dr. Brian Arnall, OSU precision nutrient management specialist; Dr. Tom Royer, OSU integrated pest management and field crop agronomist; Dr. Mark Gregory, OSU SW Oklahoma area agronomist; Roger Gribble, OSU NW Oklahoma area agronomist and Sholar who is also the Oklahoma Oilseed Commission executive director.
You can find a complete list of the tour stops by clicking here. You can also contact your county agent for more details.
Sholar says tour participants will get to see and learn a great deal about canola, but he says it is also important for veteran canola growers to take advantage of the opportunity as well.
"OSU, of course, is heading up the tours--Josh Bushong at Oklahoma State University. They'll get to see what their money is supporting, the growers will, in terms of variety selection and demonstrations of different variety types, soil fertility results, insect control, weed control. It will be a pretty complete picture." He said it will be a "great opportunity for growers or would-be growers to get out and see and ask an expert and get some advice and get their questions answered."
Sholar says he is tremendously optimistic about the long-term prospects for canola in the state. He says more seed companies are getting involved in seed trials and more canola buyers are jumping in as well. There were only two buying points for canola last year. This coming year, he says, there are at least 12 different companies that will be buying at multiple sites. He says this is a clear indication that canola has staying power as a permanent crop in Oklahoma.
Click on the LISTEN BAR below to hear the full interview.
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