Agricultural News
Josh Bushong Says Canola Farmers Optimistic for 2015
Fri, 18 Jul 2014 10:44:02 CDT
Water was the single largest factor to impact this year's canola production. Oklahoma State University Extension Winter Canola Specialist Joshua Bushong says farmers experienced both sides of the coin from not enough water when trying to establish the crop last fall, then too much rain from May into June as farmers were getting into harvest.
"Every producer I have talked said this has been the worst year by far," Bushong said.
This year marks ten years of farmers growing canola in Oklahoma and for most this was the hardest year they have had with the oil seed crop. A lot of farmers were drought stricken the whole growing season, there were crusting issues, some farmers had to replant, not to mention freeze events in October and in April. Bushong says anything that was planted in October had challenges with a early season freeze.
"Anything in general that was planted in October we lost a significant stand out of it, Bushong said. "Some fields we completely had to be zero out just because we didn't have a stand and some we had to take to the middle of March to see what we had."
The unique weather with dry soil and harsh freezes allowed researchers to see varietial differences in winter hardiness. Bushong said there are quite of few things that farmers could have done to limit their risk, but unfortunately its difficult to predict the weather and when those freeze events will occur.
Just as harvest was nearing, the weather turned into a wetter than normal cycle. With the wet weather, one of the best tools farmers could use was a desiccates. Bushong says by applying a full rate, used a surfactant sprayed at the highest volume,allowed farmers to get pretty good knockdown on the canola crop, it dried out pretty quick and farmers were able to harvest the crop.
Farmers were severely discounted this year with a lot of issues with poor seed quality. Bushong says with extreme heat in May caused seed shrinkage, along with low oil content , sprouting and green seeds. Overall, no matter where farmers were located in the state harvest was challenging.
"A lot of these canola producers don't really blame the crop, they know the weather conditions really had a major effect on it," Bushong said. "A lot of their wheat crops showed similar results, comparable yields."
Click on the LISTEN BAR below as Joshua Bushong and Farm Director Ron Hays talk about the upcoming growing season and the 10th Annual Winter Canola Conferences. IN ADDITION- Joshua Bushong will be Ron's guest on Saturday morning for his regular In the Field feature on the Saturday morning news on KWTV, News9 in Oklahoma City at about 6:40 AM.
Going into planting of the 2015 crop, Oklahoma will have 15 counties eligible for crop insurance. Earlier this month the US Department of Agriculture Risk Management Agency added Canadian, Comanche, Cotton, Logan and Noble counties that are now eligible for crop insurance. This will allow more farmers to get coverage without the process of submitting a proposal for a written agreement. Bushong says he looks for canola acres to increase as a result, as a lot of producers have been wanting to grow canola.
"Insurance is a big factor for a lot producers in Oklahoma," Bushong said. "Canola - being a higher risk crop than wheat, we really need that insurance, a lot of producers who don't get insurance won't grow it."
Coming up OSU is hosting 10th annual winter canola conferences on July 29th in Enid and on July 30 in Altus. There is no charge to attend either of the conferences being put on by cooperating partners Oklahoma State University's Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Kansas State University, Oklahoma Oilseed Commission, and the Great Plains Canola Association. Bushong says speakers will address the market outlook, weather, agronomy, pest management, weed control/management, disease control and management.
The July 29th conference will take place from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Enid Convention Hall, located downtown at 301 S. Independence Ave. in Enid. A meeting of the Great Plains Canola Association will follow the meeting.
The July 30th conference will take place from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Western Oklahoma State College, located at 2801 N. Main St. in Altus. Registration will begin at 8 a.m. for both
conferences, with programs kicking off just before 9 a.m.
Anyone seeking additional information about the upcoming canola conferences should contact Bushong by email at josh.bushong@okstate.edu or by phone at 405 - 744-9600, or Sholar by email at jrsholar@aol.com or by phone at 405 - 780 - 0113.
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