Find answers to your top questions about growing winter canola in the Mid-South, plus details on the Winter Canola Program provided by Pioneer and Bunge Chevron Ag Renewables.
Whenever a new crop is available, farmers have lots of questions. We get it. That’s why we’ve gathered the most frequently asked questions about growing winter canola and the Winter Canola Program partnership between Pioneer and Bunge Chevron right here to help give you all the information you need. Have more questions? You’ll find ways to contact us directly below.
Find out if winter canola is a good fit for your operation: visit Grow Gold With Winter Canola.
Winter canola is planted in the fall and overwinters to be harvested in the early summer. By comparison, spring canola is planted in early spring and harvested in the fall. The plants are similar in terms of their biological makeup, although winter canola has better tolerance to cold and freezing. Due to its longer growing season, winter canola yields are about 20% to 30% higher than those of spring canola. Winter canola can be used in your current double-cropping system (as a rotational crop following corn or soybeans) or on acres that are fallow in winter.
The Winter Canola Program provides a contract with farmers to purchase their harvested winter canola crop with the option to use the oil to produce renewable fuel.
Supported by a partnership between Pioneer and Bunge Chevron Ag Renewables, the program is a unique closed-loop system that gives farmers access to a new crop and a new potential source of revenue, with a path to market to sell it. The goal is to increase the availability of vegetable oil feedstocks to help grow the domestic renewable fuels market.
Winter canola is planted in mid- to late September following the summer corn or soybean crop. Winter canola will sprout in about 5 to 7 days under the right conditions and requires around 600 GDUs to reach between 5 and 8 leaves with a stem diameter of 1/4 to 1/2 inch. This ensures the best situation for winter hardiness before becoming dormant (overwintering) during the coldest part of the winter. In early spring, the winter canola restarts growth and is typically harvested in late May or early June, making it a great companion for double-crop soybeans.
Farmers most often choose one of two ways to work winter canola into their production: (1) planting it in September on what would have been fallow acres, or (2) planting it in rotation with winter wheat or other double-cropping systems every two to three years.
When another crop (such as winter canola) is added to a rotation, other crops in the rotation tend to have better yields and better resistance to pests. Including winter canola in a crop rotation brings key additional benefits:
No. Winter canola can be used in rotation with winter wheat since it needs two to three years before planting in the same field for disease prevention.
Pioneer® brand winter canola hybrids have been specially bred to be planted as a new double-cropping system in the Mid-South. Pioneer combined industry-leading research with top genetics to deliver superior disease resistance, winter hardiness, and high oil content.
Production Guidelines
| Planting Dates | Sept. 10 – Oct. 1 on well-drained soils |
|---|---|
| Seedbed Prep | Firm seedbed required |
| Seeding Rate | 2.5 – 3 lbs/acre (depending on seed size) to achieve final stand of 5 – 7 plants per sq ft in late fall |
| Row Spacing | 7.5" – 15" |
| Seeding Depth | 1/4" – 1/2" |
| Weed Control | Preemergence herbicide application is important. Clean seedbed is vital for stand establishment and weed control. Avoid fields with Italian ryegrass or wild mustard/radish. |
| Fertility | An application of nitrogen (along with any other recommended fertilizer components) will be necessary before the bolt phase (stem elongation). This application could be split depending on year. - Fall (per acre): Nitrogen=25 lbs, P=80 lbs, K=120 lbs, Sulfur=25 lbs, Boron=2 lbs. Adjust per soil test. - Spring (per acre): Applied prior to stem extension – Nitrogen=100 lbs (split applied around 30 days apart to maximize yield), first application to include Sulfur=25 lbs, Boron=2 lbs. |
| Insect Management | Treat per scouting thresholds for aphids and/or cabbage pod weevils. |
| Fungal Disease Management | Aproach® Prima fungicide is highly recommended at early bloom for sclerotinia and other diseases. Application timing: 30% – 50% bloom. An additional application of herbicide may be necessary depending on weed spectrum. |
| Harvest | Late May to early June: Use a desiccant to ensure even moisture/maturity for ease of harvest. Grain moisture needs to be at or below 10% to ensure proper storage. |
There are several differences between managing winter canola and winter wheat. In comparison to winter wheat, winter canola:
To increase the chances of plant survival, make sure the crop is planted and has enough time to develop three to four leaves prior to the predicted first freeze date. General guidance is to plant at least six weeks before the first freeze.
No, you will not need new or different equipment to plant and harvest winter canola. You can use traditional wheat, corn, and soybean planting and harvest equipment with minimal retrofits. Incorporating winter canola into a rotation is easy, as it fits right into current cropping systems. It follows traditional timing and equipment used for winter wheat crop rotations.
Based on university trials in the Mid-South, we anticipate yields of 45 to 55 bu/acre, with potential to be higher based on individual operations.
Canola seeds contain approximately 40% oil and 17–26% protein.
Like any crop, revenue will vary according to your individual operation and practices. If winter canola is planted on fallow ground, it can be an opportunity for extra revenue. If you’re familiar with growing winter wheat, the revenue for winter canola is competitive with that crop. Check to see your potential revenue with the local live cash-bid price calculator.
Yes, crop insurance is available in some counties. Talk with your crop insurance provider to discuss options that are available in your area.
Winter canola does best when weeds are controlled early. The critical weed-free period for canola is from emergence to the plant’s 4-leaf stage1. If you delay weed control until the 6- to 7-leaf stage you could experience a significant loss in yield2. Because fields and farmers' experiences can vary, consult with your local Pioneer agronomist or sales representative for specific guidance on your land.
Herbicide tolerant canola systems
| HT System | Active(s) | Product | Group | Application Rate |
Crop Stage |
Water Volume |
Max Passes/Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roundup Ready® | Glyphosate | VP480 | 9 | 2 apps. up to 0.5 REL/ac** each or a single app. lp to 0.75 REL/ac | Cotyledon to 6-leaf | 5-10 US gal/ac | 2 |
| LibertyLink® | Glufosinate | Interline | 10 | 1st app: 1.62L/ac. 2nd app: 1.37L/ac; do not exceed 2.97L/ac per season | Cotyledon to early bolting | 10 US gal/ac | 2 |
| Clearfield® | Imazamox/ Imazapyr |
Ares™ SN*** | 2 | 244 ml/ac | 2- to 7-leaf | 5-10 US gal/ac | 1 |
| Optimum® GLY® | Glyphosate | VP480 | 9 | 2 apps. up to 1.0 REL/ac each | Cotyledon to first flower | 5-10 US gal/ac | 2 |
| Single app. up to 2.0 REL/ac.tt | Cotyledon to 6-leaf | 1 |
Here’s a quick overview:
Review more specific details on the Winter Canola Program.
In addition to providing a potential new income opportunity, adding winter canola to a rotation provides a cover crop that can enhance soil health by holding more nutrients, water, and carbon in the soil. Pioneer winter canola hybrids can be used in a double-crop system following soybeans or cotton and won’t interrupt row crop production. Plus, participating farmers get top hybrids and agronomic advice from Pioneer to maximize yield potential. Combined with the demand from Chevron for biofuel and handling, and processing and grain marketing capabilities from Bunge, this gives farmers an entirely new opportunity for revenue when they participate in the Winter Canola Program. Read more about the reasons to grow winter canola.
Pioneer is building on a century of breeding and agronomic expertise to deliver a winter canola hybrid that’s uniquely suited to the Mid-South, increasing your chances of a successful harvest. Plus, the partnership with Bunge Chevron Ag Renewables can help provide market stability and contract assurances that all production from enrolled canola acres will be purchased. Simply put: Competitor programs don’t have access to Pioneer technology and agronomic support, and they don’t have the downstream market that we’ve established through this partnership with Bunge and Chevron Ag Renewables.
For the Winter Canola Program, we’re offering acreage-stye grain contracts that include an Act of God Clause as well as various pricing alternatives. For more specific information, contact Alex Hibler, commercial manager of grain marketing at Bunge.
We’ve made it convenient for farmers in the Mid-South to get their grain to market. There are multiple Bunge elevators in northwest Tennessee and southwest Kentucky (along the Mississippi and Ohio rivers) that are ready to process winter canola. We also continue to expand delivery locations. For specific information on finding an elevator near you, contact Bunge.
Pioneer brand winter canola seed is currently available from authorized retail locations in Kentucky and Tennessee that sell and service the Pioneer brand. To find a location near you, visit the Winter Canola Program.
No. Demand for corn and soybeans is forecasted to continue to be strong, and winter canola isn’t a replacement for those crops.
As the world prioritizes reducing greenhouse gas emissions and transitions to lower carbon intensity feedstock sources, the demand for renewable fuels from agricultural crops is expected to increase. As an example of their strong commitment to renewable fuels, Bunge Chevron Ag Renewables LLC is building a new oilseed processing plant in Destrehan, Louisiana, that’s specifically designed to process softseeds, such as winter canola, soybeans, and others.
Yes, both biodiesel and renewable diesel can be used in new and existing engines and infrastructure and often without any modification. Go to EnDura Fuels™ to learn more.
Winter canola can now be successfully planted in the mid-South. Thanks to a new Pioneer® winter canola hybrid and a unique partner program with Bunge Chevron Ag Renewables, farmers can access a new revenue stream. See if the Winter Canola Program could be a fit for your operation.
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Read ArticleLearn how a new program from Pioneer and Bunge Chevron Ag Renewables is minimizing the risks and maximizing the opportunities for Mid-South farmers planting winter canola.
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