The Canadian honeybee industry is thriving, reported The Globe and Mail July 22. Stating statistics that there are record high honeybee colonies, increased honey production and improved bee survival rates, the article dispelled myths about the mass demise of bees. It also noted the ban on neonicotinoid seed treatment products has adversely affected canola crops in Europe and recent legislation restricting the use of these valuable products in Ontario ignores “a growing pile of credible science.” A local farmer in the story “predicts the curb on neonics use will make things worse for the environment, not better, because farmers will have to apply several rounds of pesticides instead of none.”

Scientific advances in understanding the nutritive power of dietary fiber may be the key to unlocking a greater use of canola meal for livestock feed. AG Professional reported July 10 that through specialized plant breeding to produce yellow seeds and utilizing new dehulling options and enzyme formulations, canola meal’s nutrients can be better digested by monogastric animals such as pigs and poultry. In addition to canola meal’s high content of protein, amino acids, carbohydrates, selenium and phosphorous, better harnessing its dietary fiber could be the industry’s “X factor,” noted Bogdan Slominski, Ph.D., of the University of Manitoba at the International Rapeseed Congress that took place July 5-9 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.

Minnesota canola acres jumped 36 percent in 2015, reported the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service in June. In 2014, there were 14,000 acres of canola planted statewide, while 19,000 acres were planted in 2015. Although canola plantings were down in much of the U.S. (from about 1.71 million acres in 2014 to 1.57 million in 2015), Minnesota showed the greatest increase, with North Dakota’s acreage also increasing by 2.5 percent.

North Dakota State University Extension hosted its annual Canola Day on June 30, bringing together canola growers to discuss production and the industry. As noted by local station KFYR-TV, North Dakota is the largest producer of canola in the U.S., making it difficult for farmers to keep up with demand. Topics covered included tips for dealing with weather, pests and other production challenges. Barry Coleman, executive director of the Northern Canola Growers Association, said, “It’s good for the growers to see what’s going on in the current year and to provide feedback to the extension personnel here on what they’re seeing out in their fields.”

The Northern Canola Growers Association held its Annual Canola Research Tour at Langdon Research Extension Center on July 16, bringing together 100 area canola producers to hear from researchers on topics ranging from groundwater management to clubroot. The center’s ongoing research is focused on new herbicide treatments and traits, microbial treatments, canola diseases, swathing and row spacing.

Kansas State University Research and Extension will host two pre-plant canola risk management schools. The first will be Aug. 5 in Wichita at the Sedgwick County Extension Center. The second will be Aug. 6 in Garden City at the Southwest Research-Extension Center. K-State canola breeder Mike Stamm told Midwest Producer that these in-depth educational opportunities will “give new and experienced producers the information needed to make an informed decision about planting winter canola this fall.” Topics will include planting dates, insect management, winter survival, on-farm establishment research and marketing.

Oklahoma State University (OSU) welcomed Josh Lofton, Ph.D., as assistant professor and cropping systems specialist July 31. Lofton, an Oklahoma native, comes to OSU from Louisiana State University where he served as a crops extension specialist at the Macon Ridge Research Station and also earned his doctorate. His appointment at OSU is 75 percent extension and 25 percent research, and his program will focus on cropping systems and canola production.

In an industry first, Cargill will begin mapping all aspects of its North American high-oleic canola supply chain in a new project named “Knowing Your Roots: From Farm to Table.” As more consumers take an interest in where their food comes from, Cargill’s role as the only major high-oleic canola oil supplier that is also a seed company allows for greater transparency and traceability. Launching Oct. 1, the program will walk customers and consumers through the entire supply chain – from canola farmers to oil processing and packaging to end users.

Fortune 100 farmer-owned cooperative and global energy, grains and food company CHS, Inc. is purchasing the PICO Northstar Hallock LLC canola plant in Hallock, Minn., for $127 million, according to the July 15 AGWeek. The plant was completed in 2012 for about $165 million, with PICO Holdings owning 87.7 percent and Northstar Founders LLC owning 12.3 percent. The plant was built to handle 1,000 tons of canola per day, which expanded to 1,400 tons a day.

In related news, city officials in Enid, Okla. announced that Northstar Agri Industries decided to not move forward with plans to build a canola plant in town and is instead looking to sell the land. Enid mayor Bill Shewey was quoted in the June 29 Enid News & Eagle: “The canola plant has decided the two years with the drought and the lack of the amount of canola they need to make the plant work, was not sufficient.”

A long-standing Oklahoma City canola oil processor is set to move operations to nearby Altus, Okla., according to KSWO-TV. The Producers Cooperative Oil Mill shut down production in April and is currently looking for a buyer of its 37-acre property. The company has already purchased land in Altus and will reduce its workforce from 80 to 12 employees.

Bayer CropScience donated $40,000 to 10 non-profit organizations selected by U.S. canola growers as part of an ongoing partnership. This year’s “More for Everyone” award funds will go toward purchasing new volunteer firefighter rescue equipment, outfitting a retreat and camp center with new snowshoes and ice skates, repairing and updating two American Legion posts, and helping various other organizations.

Mark your calendars! Now’s the time to register and make arrangements to attend the USCA Board of Directors’ meeting at Hotel Mazarin in New Orleans Nov. 9-11, 2015.

The USCA is taking over the Internet! Please join us on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube for an immersive look into the world of canola.

For deeper discussions of key issues impacting the U.S. canola industry, visit the new USCA blog.