As producers consider future crop rotations on their farms, many are adding canola to the rotation.

Canola has been on the increase in the southern plains for several years, and a significant acreage is being planted in Kansas. A few southern Kansas cooperatives are considering taking in canola if acreage continues to increase and, after attending Canola U in Enid, I can say with confidence that there is a strong interest in producing even more canola in Kansas.

The CANOLA acronym stands for Canadian Oil Low Acid. Canola has greater profit potential at more than $12 per bushel. It has the ability to increase future wheat yields while reducing rye and other weed pressure. The deep canola taproot also has the potential to mellow the soil and break through some hard pans.

Even with so many benefits, producers are skeptical of canola for several reasons – including not having the proper harvest equipment, increased insect pressure, poor stand establishment and winterkill. We just feel more confident and comfortable in producing wheat. Many of the reasons canola is not being produced can be overcome with preparation and management.

Knowing what herbicides were used will be one of the first things to consider with canola. Planting most canola varieties following the application of residual sulfonylurea and imidazolinone herbicides should be avoided. Even though wheat harvest has concluded for most farmers, we are just two months away from the canola insurance deadline of Aug. 31 for written agreements.

Field preparations are another aspect to consider with canola production. The best stands are established on ground that is mostly clear of residue, either by burning or tillage. No-till soils with high residue will cause the canola crown root to rise above the residue, making it more susceptible to winterkill.

Sept. 15-30 is the ideal planting date in south central Kansas. Seed is available in both conventional and Roundup Ready varieties. K-State Extension recommends applying one-third of the nitrogen as preplant fertilizer and the other two-thirds as top-dress in late winter. Canola also requires more intensive insect scouting than most farmers do on their wheat.

To combat the concern of overlap of wheat and canola harvest or the concern of not having the proper harvest equipment, many producers look to custom cutters. A full list of custom harvesters and swathers is available at www.greatplainscanola.org.

Higher land values, high input costs and optional land uses will squeeze profit out of traditional wheat production. This squeeze will make us manage our crops more intensively than we have done in the past. Crop rotation will become a necessity to produce the highest yields on all of our acres while reducing our fungicide and herbicide costs.

If you would like more information on canola production, contact your local Extension office and ask for a Great Plains Canola Production Handbook.

Cody Barilla is the Reno County Research and Extension agriculture agent.