Senate Agriculture Committee Ranking Member John Boozman (R-AR) released a proposed farm bill framework on June 11. It increases Reference Prices, Title I commodities by an average of 15%, Agriculture Risk Coverage level and Marketing Assistance Loan rates among other items as well as provides an inflationary increase for payment limits and base acre increases for “those with minimal or no base.” The bill also “reigns in” discretionary use of Commodity Credit Corporation. (Photo by Ray Mosman.)
The U.S. Canola Association (USCA) submitted comments on June in support of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) proposed registration of glufosinate-p-ammonium, the new active ingredient contained in Liberty® ULTRA Herbicide, powered by Glu-L Technology from BASF. “Liberty ULTRA represents an advance in herbicide technology that will benefit growers and other agricultural industry stakeholders,” the USCA wrote. “The Glu-L Technology utilized in Liberty ULTRA typically reduces the application use rate by 25% compared to … Liberty® 280. The lower use rate provides several important economic and environmental benefits including less inactive material introduced to the environment while still maintaining a high level of efficacy on difficult weeds.”
On June 25, Clean Fuels Alliance America filed a petition to ask the Environmental Protection Agency to reconsider Renewable Fuel Standard volumes for 2024 and 2025. “The agency set biomass-based diesel and overall advanced volumes significantly below actual production of the fuels, ignoring available data on the rapid build out of production capacity,” Clean Fuels said in a news release. “The low volumes are discouraging production, sacrificing greenhouse gas emission reductions, and undercutting the economic benefits intended under the program.”
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (page 19) reported on June 28 planted area of canola is at a record high of 2.66 million acres in 2024, up 10% from last year, and harvested acreage is forecast at 2.62 million. Planted acreage increased in all major canola-producing states, including North Dakota (2 million+), Montana (200,000), Washington (195,000), Idaho (95,000), Minnesota (93,000), Oklahoma (21,000) and Kansas (8,500). North Dakota, Montana and Washington all have record highs for planted acreage. Related harvested areas in these states will also be record highs if realized.
Seed World magazine recently reported on innovations in canola that will tackle clubroot, pod shattering and verticillium stripe. The University of Alberta is integrating strong clubroot resistance from wild cabbage into canola and “the implications are profound — canola cultivation stands on the brink of a revolution.” The University of Manitoba is leveraging genomics to enhance shattering tolerance and later verticillium stripe resistance. Laval University’s EdeLab Sustainable Plant Protection Group pioneered a phenotyping system for clubroot in canola varieties, resulting in greater understanding its inner workings. Moreover, the lab has uncovered insecticide resistance in leafhoppers.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Honey Bee Health Coalition, including the U.S. Canola Association, which promotes honey bee health and sustainable agricultural practices, such as Canola Best Management Practices. Since its inception in 2014, the coalition has been a “leading force in addressing the challenges faced by honey bees. Its mission is to improve the health and productivity of honey bees through a collaborative approach involving diverse stakeholders.” The Honey Bee Health Coalition and related Farmers for Monarchs are facilitated by the Keystone Policy Center.
A new sclerotinia risk assessment tool is available from the Canola Council of Canada. It calculates sclerotinia risk to inform spray decisions at flowering and before harvest for long-term profitability.
Get out the grill, U.S. Independence Day is around the corner. Here are some delicious recipes made with canola oil from CanolaInfo.org to help you celebrate:
· Chipotle and Honey Glazed Ribs
· Prairie Barbecue Marinade
· Chicken Parsley Burger
· Grilled Chimichurri Beef Kebabs
· Grilled Tuna Steaks with Cilantro and Basil
Canola oil is ideal in grilling recipes due to its high heat tolerance (468° F), light texture and neutral taste that does not interfere with barbeque sauce or other flavors.
Rothamsted Research (UK) granted Yield10 Bioscience, Inc. (USA) an exclusive global, commercial license to biotechnology for producing EPA/DHA omega-3 oil in camelina, a non-food crop with the potential to compete with other oilseeds in animal and human nutrition. The result of 20+ years of research, the genetically modified camelina plants have the potential to commercially produce EPA/DHA at scale for the first time for use in aquafeed, pet food and nutritional supplements. Algal genes inserted into camelina allow for the production of these heart-healthy fatty acids (building blocks of fat).
The Minnesota Canola Council will host its 2024 Canola Field Day and Hackers Golf Scramble Wed., July 17 at Roseau Oakcrest Golf Club.
The North Dakota State University Langdon Research Extension Center will host its annual field day on July 18 in cooperation with the Northern Canola Growers Association. “Local growers will receive the most up-to-date information regarding the challenges faced … in northeastern North Dakota,” says Randy Mehlhoff, the center’s director. and speakers will include:
- Regional canola and pea production – Bryan Hanson, research agronomist
- Insect update on all crops, including canola – Anitha Chirumamilla, extension cropping systems specialist
- Canola disease management update – Venkat Chapara, research plant pathologist
- Soil salinity and sodicity thresholds of annual crops – Naeem Kalwar, extension soil health specialist
- Carbon credits for farmers – Dave Ripplinger, associate professor and extension bioproducts/bioenergy specialist
- Herbicide symptomology – Joe Ikley, assistant professor and extension weed specialist
- Prevent plant acres – Cavalier County Farm Service Agency
The field day will begin at 8:30 am with coffee and doughnuts and end with lunch at 12 noon.
The autumn USCA board meeting will be in San Diego, Calif., Mon.-Wed., Nov. 11-13.
Want to see exactly where spring and winter canola is growing in the United States? Check out our online canola acreage map by county.
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