Canola Production

North Dakota leads the U.S. in canola production, with approximately 85% of the domestic production in 2020.

Canola is a specific, edible type of rapeseed that contains about 40% oil. The crop was developed in the 1970s. The term “canola” is a name registered by the Western Canadian Oilseed Crushers Association.

Canola varieties must have an erucic acid content of less than 2% and less than 30 micromoles of glucosinolates per gram of seed. Canadian and U.S. farmers primarily grow low-erucic acid and low-glucosinolate hybrids. High-erucic acid oil rapeseed is grown and used for industrial lubricants. This high-erucic acid type of rapeseed mostly is grown in Europe, although some production occurs in Canada and the U.S.

In January 1985, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted canola oil GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) status for use in human foods. This has led to greatly increased sales and demand in the U.S., with only part of the demand being met by U.S. production. Canola oil has achieved worldwide commodity status and is used extensively in Japan, Canada and Europe.

Canola (Brassica napus L.) varieties have been developed as spring and winter annuals. The spring type is best adapted to North Dakota conditions. The winter types have not survived consistently in trials in North Dakota, northwestern Minnesota or in the Prairie Provinces of Canada. Canola can be grown on most soil types. It is best suited to clay-loam soils that do not crust.

If grown on soil with poor internal drainage, good surface drainage and/or subsurface (tile) drainage is essential because the canola plant cannot tolerate standing water or waterlogged soils. Canola is less tolerant to drought than small-grain crops.

Canola varieties are of two types: the Argentine type of the species, Brassica napus, and the Polish type of the species, Brassica rapa. Argentine varieties have a higher yield potential and also are taller and have a higher oil content than Polish varieties. Argentine varieties require about 95 days to reach maturity, while Polish varieties need approximately 80 days to reach maturity. Variety trial results are available from NDSU. See NDSU Extension publication A1124 (www.ag.ndsu.edu/varietytrials) for the most recent variety yield results.

Herbicide-tolerant canola (HTC) hybrids with resistance to a specific herbicide have been developed. Available HTC traits are: Roundup Ready and TruFlex Roundup Ready (active ingredient glyphosate), Liberty Link (active ingredient glufosinate), SU-tolerant (active ingredients thifensulfuron and tribenuron both sulfonylurea herbicides), Clearfield (active ingredient imazamox; an imidazolinone or Imi herbicide) and triazine-tolerant (not available in the US [2021]).

The growth stages of canola can be determined using a scale developed in Canada. This scale uses five principal stages and subdivides these into secondary stages. Many crop management recommendations are based on these specific growth stages of canola.

Canola best follows cereal grains or fallow in rotation. A preferred crop rotation would have canola planted at least two cropping years between plantings. We recommend growing a variety that is resistant to blackleg and clubroot. Do not grow the same variety every time as blackleg can cause significant damage and using the same blackleg type of resistance can result in a change of blackleg races.

Canola is susceptible to sclerotinia stem rot. White mold (sclerotinia) infection risk increases if canola is planted closely in rotation with other highly susceptible crops, such as sunflower or dry edible bean. If planting canola within three years of susceptible crops, a fungicide application may be needed.

Less susceptible crops that could be planted successfully in a rotation with canola are soybean, flax, semileafless field pea or lentil. In years when ideal environmental conditions favor air-borne spore movement, all canola plantings without fungicide applied, regardless of rotation intervals, may have economic losses due to sclerotinia.

Canola is likely to shatter seeds, and volunteer plants are a probability during the next season. Cereals should follow canola to allow the use of certain broadleaf phenoxy herbicides for volunteer canola control. Avoid the production of canola and tame mustard on the same farm. A mixture of the two crops reduces the market value of both. In addition, conventional canola should not be planted on fields with heavy infestations of wild mustard.

The persistence of herbicide residue remaining from application to prior growing crops and weeds can injure new canola seedlings depending if it is a conventional or HTC hybrid. Always refer to the herbicide label information pertaining to crop rotation restrictions following herbicide use.

 Information on rotation restrictions for certain crops, including canola following herbicide applications, are in the North Dakota Weed Control Guide.

Canola is very susceptible to soil crusting. The seedbed must be firm to seed canola. Seed and soil moisture contact is critical for rapid emergence, so seeding canola into dry soil is not recommended. The seedbed should be prepared in a manner that minimizes wind erosion so seedlings are not damaged by drifting soil.

Canola can be planted with a variety of seeding equipment. The optimum depth to seed canola is ½ to 1 inch. Seeding depth should not exceed 1 inch. Canola typically is seeded in 6- or 7-inch rows with a grain drill or air seeder if uniform depth control can be obtained.

Dates

NDSU researchers have evaluated the effect of planting date on canola yield at different locations. Growing conditions differ within the state. Data collected at Minot and Langdon were used to construct response curves for the different locations (Figures 1 and 2). Yields were expressed as the percent of the highest yield obtained from each separate experiment.

In Figures 1 and 2, the yield potential decreased as the canola planting date went later into the season. At the most northern location, Langdon, yields stayed relatively stable from the earliest plant date though the third week of May. At Minot, yields tended to decrease more rapidly after the optimum seeding date (first part of May).

Canola should be planted in late April to early May to achieve the highest yields. Planting dates delayed beyond May 15 may result in yield reductions. Significant yield reduction can be expected if seeding is delayed into June. Canola is very susceptible to heat and drought stress during flowering. Planting in early May will reduce the risk of heat and drought stress on the crop. Canola seedlings are frost tolerant and can tolerate temperatures as low as 24 F.

Dormant seeding of canola can be defined as seeding it in cold, nearly frozen soil, which will inhibit germination that fall. The objective is that the seed remains dormant after planting until early spring. As conditions become favorable in the spring, the canola germinates and emerges. Determining when to dormant seed is difficult because growers cannot go by a specific calendar date. The soil needs to be cold, if not frozen (below or near 32 F in the top 2 inches). If soil temperatures warm to 38 F or higher, the seed will germinate and will be killed once the soil freezes.

Seeding Rates

Knowing the number of seeds per pound of the variety and establishing a seeding rate by plant population are very important for a grower. As a general rule for the Argentine canola, hybrids will contain approximately 75,000 to 85,000 seeds per pound, whereas open-pollinated varieties will contain a range of 135,000 to 160,000 seeds per pound. For the Polish varieties, the seed count usually will be greater than 200,000 seeds per pound.

Seeding rates of about 10 seeds per square foot will result in approximately five to eight established plants per square foot, which will optimize yields with row spacings narrower than 12 inches. A minimum established plant population is four plants per square foot. However, with herbicide-tolerant canola, stands can be as low as two to three plants per square foot, providing they all are uniformly spaced. Seeding rates can be reduced if the percent seed that becomes an established plant increases. Seeding equipment has greatly improved with excellent seed placement compared with the old double disk drill. In addition, the seed cost is high and reduced seeding rates will be financially beneficial.

Canola is similar to small grains in its response to fertilizer and levels of soil fertility. Nitrogen and sulfur are the key elements for high canola yields. Nitrogen and potash fertilizer should not be placed in direct contact with the seeds but should be broadcast or applied in a band at least 2 inches away from the seed. A soil test is recommended for proper assessment of nutrient need. See NDSU Extension publication SF1122, Fertilizing Canola and Mustard.

Canola is a high user of sulfur (S). A 2,000 pounds per acre (lb./A) canola crop contains about 12 lb./A of sulfur in the straw and 15 lb./A of sulfur in the seed. A 40 bu/A wheat crop, on the other hand, contains only 7 lb./A of sulfur in the straw and 5 lb./A in the seed.

The consequences of low soil S levels are very serious in canola production. Low sulfur can make the difference between having a crop and not having a crop. Responses to sulfur fertilization have been demonstrated in North Dakota. The S soil test does not provide correct information for canola S fertilization. The recommended sulfur application rates are 20 to 30 pounds of S per acre.

Canola takes up sulfate-S. The form of sulfur fertilizer may be ammonium sulfate (21-0-0-24S) or other sulfate fertilizers, such as ammonium thiosulfate or potassium thiosulfate. Elemental sulfur forms have not performed well in regional trials and are not recommended because these S sources have little value in the year of application.

Providing adequate sulfur before or at planting is best. However, if deficiencies are identified early in the season before significant flowering, yield responses still are possible by applying a rescue treatment of ammonium thiosulfate (12-0-0-26S) or ammonium sulfate. The earlier a treatment is made, the greater the yield response. Leaves absorb little sulfur. A rescue treatment needs rainfall to move the soluble sulfate to the roots.

Young canola seedlings are very sensitive to early weed competition. An effective weed control program should include cultural, mechanical and chemical methods. Once established, canola is a good competitor with most weeds.

Wild mustard is a serious seed contaminant in canola and can cause price discounts or rejection in the market. Give special attention to preplant control or avoiding this weed in canola fields. Follow cultural practices to assure a dense, vigorous developing crop that will compete well with weeds. Pay attention to seeding dates, rates and depth of seed placement. Perennial weeds should be controlled the year prior to seeding canola.

Because canola is a shallow-seeded crop, the use of a rotary hoe or springtooth harrow for weed control is discouraged. These tillage tools can injure and destroy the canola seedlings, greatly reducing stands. Trifluralin (several brands) and Sonalan (ethalfluralin) are the only preplant soil-incorporated herbicides labeled for control of weeds in canola. Use the lower rates of these two herbicides on sandy, coarse-textured, low-organic matter soils.

Trifluralin and Sonalan always must be preplant-incorporated in the soil prior to planting. Both will control annual grasses and some broadleaf weeds, such as pigweed, common lambsquarters and kochia. Wild mustard will not be controlled.

Clopyralid is labeled for post-emergence control of small broadleaf weeds. This herbicide also can be used to control Canada thistle and perennial sowthistle in canola. Apply clopyralid when the canola is in the two- to six-leaf stage and prior to bolting.

Sethoxydim (Poast), quizalofop (Assure II or Targa) and clethodim or (Select Max 1EC, Select 2EC, Shadow 3EC) all are labeled for post-emergence grass control in canola. See the label for rates according to grass weed species and size. For best control, grasses should be growing actively and crop oil adjuvants must be added. Clethodim should be applied prior to bolting as it may injure canola when applied during flowering.

Tank-mixing these grass-controlling herbicides with broadleaf herbicides can be done in some cases, but follow all label restrictions because reduced grass weed control may result if you do not follow directions.

Thoroughly clean and rinse any herbicide residue that may be harmful to canola prior to filling the spray tank. Sulfonylurea herbicide residue or phenoxy herbicide in trace amounts can be very injurious to canola.

Canola (without the designated herbicide trait) is extremely sensitive to drift from most broadleaf herbicides, such as 2,4-D, MCPA, dicamba, glyphosate (nonglyphosate-tolerant hybrids) and certain sulfonylurea herbicides. Take precautions to keep these herbicides from drifting to canola fields.

Heat injury to seedlings occasionally occurs on hot, sunny days with air temperatures in the range of 85 to 95 F and soil temperatures of 100 F. Heat injury commonly is associated with drought injury, but excessive heat also will injure or kill plants, even if moisture is plentiful.

When in the blooming stages, heat blasting and/or flower abortion is a strong possibility. This can vary from field to field and is very dependent on the time of flowering, soil moisture and humidity during the hot periods. Usually in this situation, you would see no or limited pod growth and, thus, no seed. It usually will be in distinct regions on the main stem and branches as related to the time of flowers and the heat stress. Heat stress and drought will shorten the flowering period, resulting in less pod set. However, if conditions improve before the end of flowering, canola has the ability to increase the flowering period and/or increase branching to add to yield potential.

Low and high temperatures can affect development adversely prior to and during flowering. Low but nonfreezing temperatures just prior to flowering slow the rate of plant development. The start of flowering is delayed or the rate of flower opening is slowed and the amount of pollen shed is reduced.

High temperatures at flowering will hasten the plant’s development, reducing the time from flowering to maturity. High temperatures during flowering shorten the time the flower is receptive to pollen, as well as the duration of pollen release and its viability. Both can decrease the number of pods that develop and the number of seeds per pod, resulting in lower yields.

Once pods are formed, canola is more tolerant to high temperatures than at flowering. Cool night temperatures at this time also help the plant recover from extreme heat or dry weather. However, during this stage, a combination of heat and extreme drought will affect the pod and seed development severely, including the formation of seeds, seed size and oil content. The seed oil content is highest when seeds mature under lower temperatures (50 to 70 F).

High temperatures during seed maturation result in reduced oil content. High temperatures and drought hasten maturity and, in combination, can reduce yield through fewer pods, with fewer and lighter seeds per pod.

Plant diseases can be a serious problem in canola production. Rotations must be planned carefully to keep disease incidence and levels low. The major diseases of importance are sclerotinia wilt, blackleg, and clubroot. The diseases of canola less often reported are white rust or staghead, downy mildew, alternaria blackspot and aster yellows.

The blackleg disease occurs in two strains: a mild strain and a virulent (severe) strain. The virulent strain produces deep-stem girdling cankers near the soil line. These cankers reduce plant vigor and may cause lodging. The virulent strain of blackleg first was found in North Dakota during the 1991 growing season.

The blackleg fungus is spread by rain-splashed or wind-borne spores and infected seed. Hybrids that have good tolerance or resistance to this disease are available. As new varieties and hybrids are introduced, more will be resistant to this disease.

In areas where the virulent strain of blackleg is present, crop rotation and selection of resistant varieties is important to blackleg management. Several fungicides are labeled for control of blackleg and should be applied at the two- to four-leaf stage of canola. For detailed information, see NDSU Extension publication PP622 North Dakota Field Crop Plant Disease Management Guide.

Blackleg is not a problem in mustards (yellow, brown and oriental), which are highly resistant. See NDSU Extension publication PP1988 Canola Diseases: Blackleg for more information.

Sclerotinia stem rot or white mold is a canola disease that can be very destructive during periods of wet weather. The sclerotinia fungus survives up to five or six years in the soil in the form of hard, black fungus bodies called sclerotia. Whenever wet weather occurs for a week or two, with moist soil, the sclerotia germinate to produce tiny mushroomlike bodies called apothecia. These apothecia are only 1/8 to 3/16 inch across, yet they produce millions of air-borne spores. Canola primarily is susceptible during all bloom stages and shortly thereafter. The spores infect the dead canola blossom tissue during periods of wet weather.

Infections that start on the dead blossoms spread to adjacent tissues, resulting in dead branches or plants, causing the plants to lodge. The rotted stems usually have a bleached appearance. Sclerotinia infections can be serious on canola if cool, wet weather occurs in the last two weeks of June and continues into early July, when blossoming occurs.

A minimum of a three-year rotation is recommended for fields that have a history of heavy sclerotinia or white mold infestations. During this rotation, avoid planting highly susceptible crops, including sunflower and dry bean.

Various fungicides are registered for use in the suppression and control of sclerotinia in canola. Information on fungicides registered is available in the NDSU Extension publication PP622, North Dakota Field Crop Plant Disease Management Guide.

The decision to spray should be made only when: 1) yield potential is above normal (at least 40 bushels or 2,000 lb./A), 2) weather leading to early bloom has been wet (at least 1 to 2 inches of rain in the two weeks prior to early bloom), 3) more rain or high humidity is expected and 4) sclerotinia has been a problem in recent years in fields currently planted to canola or in other fields nearby. A fungicide is more likely to be needed if canola is planted on tight rotations (three years or less). The NDSU canola pathology program provides a sclerotinia risk map for North Dakota during the growing season.

See the following NDSU Extension publication on the control of sclerotinia in canola: PP1989 Canola Diseases: Sclerotinia Stem Rot. 

Clubroot is a serious disease threat to canola production in the U.S. and Canada. In 2013, the disease first was identified in Cavalier County, located in the upper northeastern part of North Dakota. Since 2013, other counties are being monitored for detection of clubroot in North Dakota. Once established, no economical ways to eliminate the pathogen from the soil exist. Early detection of the disease and use of available management tools are critical to slow the spread and limit yield loss from clubroot. For a description of the disease and control see NDSU Extension publication PP1998, Canola Diseases: Clubroot. 

Severe damage to canola plants can be caused by overwintering populations of flea beetles feeding on newly emerged seedlings from May through June. Adult beetles start to emerge when temperatures are above 60 F and feed on the cotyledons and first true leaves, causing the typical shot-holed appearance. Severely damaged seedlings may die, and less seriously damaged plants may suffer a reduction in growth and vigor.

Hot, sunny weather is conducive to feeding activity, while cool, damp weather slows feeding and favors crop growth. Hot and dry weather may cause seedlings to wilt and die, resulting in partial to complete crop loss.

In some instances, the infestation of a field can occur as a creeping movement from plant to plant across a field; in other instances, the entire field may become infested quickly and evenly. Severe damage usually does not occur once the crop advances beyond the six true-leaf stage because vigorously growing canola plants can outgrow the beetle defoliation.

No major effects on plant vigor have been noted from the larval feeding on the plant roots. Occasionally in August, large numbers of newly emerged adults will move into maturing canola plants and devour the outer epidermis of the stems, leaves and pods, and may increase the risk of pod shattering and small seeds. In most years, canola will be sufficiently advanced to escape economic damage. Research in Canada found that very high numbers of 100 to 350 flea beetles per plant are needed to cause significant yield losses during late summer feeding on pods.

Cultural methods can help reduce plant losses caused by flea beetles. A firm seedbed that is fertilized adequately will help plants outgrow beetle damage during the susceptible seedling stage in the spring. No-till has been shown to reduce flea beetle damage per plant, and planting B. napus rather than B. rapus resulted in less crop damage. Other effective strategies from previous research include increasing seeding rates, planting large rather than small seeds at wide row spacings and using later planting dates (late May or early June). Integrating cultural strategies can help minimize the use of insecticides for management of flea beetles in canola production.

A few flea beetles or scattered shot-holing in leaves of a seedling crop are not necessarily cause for alarm. However, if the flea beetles are numerous and feeding cause approximately 20 to 25% defoliation (economic threshold), immediate control is recommended. The key to flea beetle control is frequent monitoring during the susceptible stages (seedling emergence to six true leaves).

Various insecticides are registered as seed treatments and labeled for control of early season flea beetles feeding damage in canola. These include the active ingredients clothianidin, cyantraniliprole, flupyradifurone and thiamethoxam. All seed treatments must be applied by commercial seed treaters and are not for use in hopper-box, slurry-box or other seed treatment applications at or immediately before planting.

Foliar insecticides also are registered under state label for control of flea beetle, diamondback moth, Bertha armyworm and other insect pests. When the residue of insecticide seed treatment declines during cool, wet growing seasons (usually 25 days after planting), rescue foliar insecticides often are needed for flea beetle control during the seedling through the six-true-leaf stage.

Any foliar application of insecticides during flowering should be applied during the early morning or late evening to minimize any toxicity to bees foraging in canola. For more information on insect control in canola, see the current NDSU Extension publication E1143 North Dakota Field Crop Insect Management Guide and NDSU Extension publication E1234 Integrated Pest Management of Flea Beetles in Canola. 

Swathing canola at the optimum stage of ripening reduces green seed problems and seed shatter losses and ensures the quality required for top grades and prices. Inspect fields every two to three days when some color change occurs in the first formed pods on the bottom of the main stem.

To determine when a field of canola is ready to swath, examine plants from different parts of the field. The stage of maturity in an evenly maturing field will vary from plant to plant and from area to area within the field. When examining the plants, take into account varying soil types, low-lying areas, available soil moisture and exposed early ripening areas.

Examine only pods on the main stem. Seeds in pods on the bottom third of the main stem were formed earlier and will turn color much sooner than seeds in the pods on the top third of the plant. Swath when at least 60% seed color change has occurred.

Seeds with only small patches of color should be counted as color-changed. The color of the seed is more important than the overall color of the field in determining the stage of maturity.

Most of the seeds that have changed color will be from the bottom third of the main stem. When seeds in the bottom pods slightly turn color, seeds in the top, last-formed pods are filled or nearly filled.

Seeds in all pods on a plant complete filling (physiological maturity) at about 40% moisture and then slowly turn from green to light yellow, or reddish brown, brown or black, depending on the variety. In hot (90 F), dry weather, canola seed can go from 10 to 50% seed color change in just three to five days or less. Once filled, the seeds rapidly lose moisture at about 2 to 3%or more each day, depending on the weather.

Swathing early can be beneficial if a hard fall frost is expected. Frost fixes the chlorophyll, or green color, in immature seed, making it difficult to remove during processing. Fall frosts rarely freeze to ground level. A swathed crop will not only lie below the coldest night temperatures, but much of the seed will benefit from the insulating properties of the swath and residual soil heat, preventing or reducing frost-fixed chlorophyll.

Another sign of canola being very near the swathing stage is the natural yellowing and senescence of leaves and leaf drop. When canola plants consist only of stems, stem branches and pods, the crop is probably very near the optimum time for swathing.

Diquat (Reglone) and saflufenacil (Sharpen) are labeled for use as a preharvest desiccant in canola. Glyphosate is labeled as a preharvest herbicide (cannot be used on canola grown for seed). Growers can maintain excellent canola yield and quality if the desiccant application is timed properly and the crop harvested in a timely manner. Apply the desiccant when seed in the middle pods (or 60 to 75%) have started to turn color. Research has shown that when the desiccant is timed properly, crop quality parameters, including canola yield, test weight, oil content, seed loss, green count and grade, generally were similar for desiccated canola, compared with swathing.

However, desiccants applied too early could result in lower yield and seed quality, with a trend toward higher green content. Diquat requires a seven-day preharvest interval and saflufenacil, three days. Research has shown that canola harvested 14 days after application will have lower green content than canola harvested seven days after application. Fields with excessively lodged canola may be difficult to desiccate because the spray droplets may not be able to penetrate the canopy. Therefore, swathing may be the better choice for lodged canola.

If you are desiccating for control of annual weeds, Sharpen + Glyphosate may provide as good or better weed control than diquat. However, if the goal is long-term control of perennial weeds such as Canada thistle, then do not use Sharpen because reduced perennial weed control will result. Long-term perennial weed control is best with Glyphosate applied in September or October.

Problems have occurred with green seed in North Dakota. Cool, wet and overcast weather during the growing season promotes green seed problems in all canola varieties, and these problems can be made worse by sulfur deficiency in some cases.

Temperature at maturity is an important factor in chlorophyll breakdown. Cool temperatures and light frosts in August and September slow the enzyme activity that breaks down chlorophyll. Frost from 32 to 33 F disrupts that system; more specifically, this frost can reverse the enzyme activity and restart the synthesis process. This is very sensitive in the seed development stage, and the window is very narrow. This can cause differences between adjacent fields that are only days apart in maturity or differ in uniformity of maturity.

Even canola swathed four to six days before a frost will retain relatively high levels of chlorophyll. Two or more germination flushes and growth stages result in immature seed at swathing and green seed at harvest. Thin stand counts can result in plants with more branching and more variability in seed maturity, and crops are more likely to have immature seed at swathing. Late-seeded canola may be impacted by all these situations.

• Choose fields with better surface and/or subsurface drainage (tile) and fertility.

• Seed as early as possible in the spring to allow for the maximum ripening time.

• Provide a firm seedbed to achieve the correct depth of planting and good seed-to-soil contact for quick and even emergence.

• Swath or desiccate at the recommended color stage for the weather conditions.

• Maintain adequate fertility levels for canola growth and ripening. Canola stressed from nutrient deficiency will not mature evenly.

• Take soil samples for a general indication of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and micronutrient levels.

• Sample plant tissue early during the rosette stage to allow time for corrective micronutrient applications if needed.

• Know that fields with high fertility levels can be expected to delay maturity in years with below-normal growing degree-days accumulation or heat units (cool years).

Canola storage can be done successfully when harvested dry and cooled with aeration. Canola storage and handling problems are similar to those of flax. The seed is round, small and heavy, and flows freely. Very tight truck boxes and storage bins are required. The seed can sweat for up to six weeks after harvest, so heating and spoilage can occur, even at 9% to 10% moisture levels. Canola as low as 8.5% moisture should be examined for heating at regular intervals.

To maintain seed quality, a drying temperature of 110 F or less is maximum for commercial production. If a significant amount of foreign material (straw) is included with the seed, running it over a scalper may be advantageous before drying and binning. Canola will bridge up easily resulting safety concerns when handling canola.

Canola varieties produce meals having about 38% protein. The amino acid distribution is very complementary to soybean oil meal, and the two meals often are included in the same ration. Feeding trials have shown that animals perform better when fed a mixture of the two meals than when fed either alone.

In Canada, canola meals are recommended for up to 10% to 20% of the ration for chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, pigs, and dairy and beef animals. Edible rapeseed oil or canola oil has been used in some countries for decades and was approved for human consumption in the U.S. by the Food and Drug Administration in 1985.

Canola oil usually is blended with other vegetable oils for the production of various solid and liquid cooking oils and salad dressings. Canola oil is high in oleic acid relative to other vegetable oils and has been competitive in price with other cooking oils.

Most canola is not grown under contract. U.S. grain standards for grading canola and rapeseed were established Feb. 28, 1992, by the U.S. Grain Inspection Service (See Table 2).

U.S. sample grade – canola that:
• does not meet the requirements for U.S. Nos. 1, 2 or 3 or
• has a musty, sour or commercially objectionable foreign odor or
• is heating or otherwise of distinctly low quality

¹ Conspicuous admixture is all matter other than canola that is readily distinguishable from canola and that remains in the sample after the removal of machine-separated dockage. It is not limited to ergot, sclerotinia and stones.

² Inconspicuous admixture. Any seed that is difficult to distinguish from canola. This includes common wild mustard (Brassica kaber and Brassica juncea), domestic brown mustard (Brassica juncea), yellow mustard (Brassica hirta) and seed other than the mustard group.

Factors of most importance in the determination of grades are admixtures and soundness. Grading admixtures include such factors as foreign material, common wild mustard seed, tame brown and yellow mustard seed, earth pellets, sclerotia, ergot and stones. Soundness refers to broken seed not assessed to dockage, seeds distinctly green after cracking, heat damage and odor.

• Know where to deliver canola to a market before planting the crop.

• Plant recommended hybrids of good quality and good yield potential.

• Plant early for profitable yields.

• Select weed-free fields and control weeds prior to planting.

• Take time to prepare a firm seedbed.

• Monitor fields for flea beetles and other insect pests.

• Mange canola to avoid green seed.

• Swath or desiccate at the proper maturity. Swathing or desiccating early reduces yield; delays allow excessive shattering.

• Monitor seed in storage for heating and spoilage because canola requires more attention than cereal grains.

• Leave a three-year rotation between canola and other sclerotinia (white-mold)-susceptible crops.

North Dakota State University

• North Dakota State University Extension, canola
• Sclerotinia Risk in Canola Forecast Program
• Canola Insects Information
   

Northern Canola Growers Association

www.northerncanola.com

U.S. Canola Association

www.uscanola.com

Canola Council of Canada

www.canolacouncil.org

A1280 Canola Production Field Guide

A1124 Canola Variety Trials

SF1122 Fertilizing Canola and Mustard

W253 North Dakota Weed Control Guide

PP1988 Canola Diseases: Blackleg

PP1989 Canola Diseases: Sclerotinia Stem Rot

PP1998 Canola Diseases: Clubroot

A1171 Swathing and Harvesting Canola

E1143 North Dakota Field Crop Insect Management Guide

E1234 Integrated Pest Management of Flea Beetles in Canola

PP622 North Dakota Field Crop Plant Disease Management Guide

W253 North Dakota Weed Control Guide

This publication was authored by Duane R. Berglund, professor emeritus and former Extension agronomist;
Kent McKay, former area Extension agronomy specialist; and Janet Knodel, Extension entomologist, NDSU.

NDSU Extension does not endorse commercial products or companies even though reference may be made to trade names, trademarks or service names.