Canola Production Centre – Minnesota 2004 annual report

Project Summary

Background

The Canola Council of Canada initiated Canola Production Centres to address the ongoing need for canola production technology transfer as identified during the Grow with Canola program (1985-1990). The Canola Production Centres were a joint effort between producer groups, industry representatives, and government and extension personnel. Field scale agronomic trials utilizing commercial farm equipment were conducted at the sites, and the information generated utilized for extension activities throughout the year.

Following tours of the Canola Production Centre near Carman, MB in 1996 and 1997 the Minnesota Canola Council sought funding for a joint project between the Minnesota Canola Council, University of Minnesota and Canola Council of Canada. The purpose of the project was to establish a Canola Production Centre site in Minnesota, and the role of the Canola Council of Canada was to provide expertise and supervisory support. This would help ensure that activities at this site would be consistent with activities at the Canadian CPCs. This allowed the information from all sites to be easily shared. Funding for the project was approved in April 1998, and the Minnesota Canola Production Centre program was born.

Purpose

Many years ago the Canola Council of Canada ran Canola Production Centres to address the ongoing need for canola production technology transfer. The Canola Production Centres were a joint effort between producer groups, industry representatives and provincial governments and their extension personnel.

The goal of the Canola Production Centre program was to improve the quality and yield of the Canadian canola crop, thereby improving profitability for both producers and processors. The Canola Production Centres provided a focal point for the transfer of canola production technology, thus enhancing interaction among the various industry participants. The specific goals of the program were to increase the yield of oil and protein, and to increase the margin per unit of production.

The program consisted of four components:

1. Canola Production Centres operated on a field scale, addressing a wide range of agronomic topics of regional and national interests.
2. Satellite locations operated on a field scale, addressing one or two topics of interest to the local community.
3. Communications through distribution of the results from the Canola Production Centres in annual regional reports and multi-year summaries, and extension activities.
4. Agronomic research conducted by either public or private research organisations in conjunction with the activities of the Canola Council at Canola Production Centres.

A series of summer tours were held throughout the growing season at the main Canola Production Centres that allowed the opportunity to view the various projects. All sites were signed and copies of site plans were available at the entrances to allow for self-guided tours at any time other than scheduled tour dates.

Quantitative information obtained from the Canola Production Centres included many agronomic factors such as early season plant counts, crop yields and lodging ratings on varieties.

2004 Minnesota Canola Production Centre overview

In the fall of 2002 the Canola Council of Canada (CCC) initiated some strategic planning, which resulted in the shift from the Canola Production Centre program of field scale agronomy trials to a new extension focused program. As a result, Canada did not have Production Centres in 2003 or 2004.

During the first two years of the Canola Production Centres, the Minnesota Canola Production Centre was located near Roseau, MN. In 2000, the site was moved to Thief River Falls, MN where it stayed through 2002. In 2003 and 2004, the CPC returned to the Roseau area.

2004 Minnesota Canola Production Centre overview

The 2004 annual report includes results on:

• economic analysis
• variety and systems comparison trial
• harvestability trial
• micro-essentials trial
• nitrogen top-dress trial

Additional results from the University of Minnesota cover:

• varietal tolerance to sclerotinia
• crop rotation and sclerotinia (in canola)
• crop rotation and winter rye in soybean
• winter canola
• seed place fertilizer trials

There were many organizations, companies, sponsors and supporters who contributed to this program.

See the report for details.