For Mark Keating, the appeal of specialty oil canola varieties is obvious: more money.
Keating, a producer at Russell, Man., has found the varieties are improving and he’s capturing premiums compared to more conventional canola crops.
“My experience generally has been positive all the way. There has only been the odd hiccup.”
Keating will share his experiences with specialty oils during Manitoba Ag Days on Jan. 20-22 at the Keystone Centre in Brandon. The event, which last year attracted more than 30,000 visitors, showcases the latest in expertise, technology and equipment for agricultural production.
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Keating is expanding his acres of specialty oil canola. The addition of varieties with herbicide tolerance is adding to his confidence, since weed control becomes less of a challenge.
Yields remain one of the main traits he looks for when choosing varieties. He said there has been gradual improvement since he started growing specialty oils in the mid-1990s.
There are things farmers need to keep in mind when growing those varieties. In his case, Keating grows specialty oils under contract with Dow AgroSciences.
Because that canola is tailored for specific markets, it must be kept segregated for identity preservation, which can create additional paperwork and the need for more bins. As a seed grower, Keating does not find the paperwork onerous and bin space is not a problem.
“It’s not a lot different than growing other canolas.”
Growing canola under contract with a company limits his marketing options. However, it also limits the guesswork about what price he can expect once it is harvested.
As one of the first growers in Western Canada to work with Dow AgroSciences on the development of its specialty oil canolas, Keating will have other insights to share when he speaks at the farm show next week.
More than 400 exhibitors are already booked for this year’s event, according to chair Roy Arnott. The show fills the entire Keystone Centre, taking in 180,000 sq. feet.
It is a place for crop and livestock producers to gather new ideas for production and marketing and to see new technology. That knowledge can help producers who are contemplating changes to their operations this year and in coming years, Arnott said.
Crop, forage and beef production will be among the topics emphasized during the seminars.
Exhibitors and visitors are drawn from across Western Canada and the north-central United States. It’s an opportunity for people to network and renew old acquaintances while making new ones.
“There’s a lot of visiting that goes on at Ag Days,” Arnott said.
Admission is free. The Ag Days program can be found on the internet at www.agdays.com.
