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Go for the Gold. Grow Canola!

By ADM Grain Marketing
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Canola, like mustard, broccoli, brussels sprouts, and cauliflower, belongs to the Brassica plant family. According to the U.S. Canola Association, “Although they look similar, canola and rapeseed plants and oils are very different. Canadian scientists used traditional plant breeding in the 1960s to practically eliminate two undesirable components of rapeseed – erucic acid from oil and glucosinolates from meal – to create canola.” The name is a contraction of Canada, where it was developed, and ola, referring to oil. It is now widely grown in Canada, the United States, and other countries.  

 

There are two types of canola: spring and winter canola. Spring canola is normally planted in March and harvested around September. This is the main variety produced in the U.S. Winter canola is normally planted in September and harvested around June. Typically, this variety will yield 20-30% more than the spring variety.  

 

Why Grow Canola? 

Growing canola offers several significant benefits, making it an excellent choice to include in your crop rotation. It can potentially: 

  • Diversify Crop Rotations – As a broadleaf crop, it allows you to use different herbicides, which can help manage weed resistance. Incorporating canola into crop rotations can disrupt pest and disease cycles, reducing the reliance on chemical treatments and promoting healthier crops overall. 
  • Soil Health Benefits – Its deep taproot system is effective at breaking up dense soil layers. This improves soil structure, allowing water to infiltrate more efficiently and enhancing the soil’s ability to support subsequent crops. Additionally, the deep roots can access nutrients that are out of reach for crops with shallower root systems, such as wheat, thereby enriching the soil. 
  • Improve Farm Economics – According to the U.S Canola Association, it can have a positive impact on the yields of other crops in the rotation. For example, soybeans planted after canola could experience increased yields.  
  • Support Wildlife – The flowers produce high amounts of nectar, attracting pollinators like bees and other beneficial insects. This not only supports biodiversity but also provides an ideal habitat and food source for these important species, contributing to a healthier ecosystem.   

 

Delivery Options with ADM 

ADM offers many different delivery locations for both winter and spring varieties. 

Winter Canola 

Spring Canola 

 

Ready to Grow Canola?

Your ADM representative is available to support you every step of the way. Please reach out if you have any questions or are interested in enrolling in bid text/email alerts. We look forward to working with you. 

You can find more grower resources for helpful tips and tricks at: 

U.S. Producers  

Canadian Producers 

 

Reach out to your ADM representative

1Market conditions may vary. ADM is not providing any tax or financial planning advice to customers.

ADM is providing this communication for informational purposes, and it is not a solicitation or offer to purchase or sell commodities. The sources for the information in this communication are believed to be reliable, but ADM does not warrant the accuracy of the information. The information in this communication is subject to change without notice. If applicable, any information and/or recommendations in this communication do not take into account any particular individual’s or company’s objectives or needs, which should be considered before engaging in any commodity transactions based on these recommendations. ADM or its affiliates may hold or take positions for their own accounts that are different from the positions recommended in this communication.