PNW Canola Association Hosts Spring Canola Tour in Montana July 15, 2019

The newly formed PNW Canola Association hosted its first-ever spring canola tour in Montana on June 26, 2019. The tour was based in the Sweet Grass Hills area and included stops at three fields, covering a range of planting dates and three different spring canola varieties. Jim Nagy hosted the first stop that began with presentations at his shop on a variety of topics:

Karen Sowers, PNWCA – Goals of the PNWCA, formation of a Montana Canola Commission, upcoming PNWCA events, and membership.

Justin Hager, Montana Specialty Mills – Cibus SU-residual tolerant canola and an update on the Montana Specialty Mill facility in Great Falls; national and international canola markets

Brad Birch, Dry Fork Ag – Pests, pollinators, and management strategies

Curt Droogsma, Winfield, MT – Glyphosate application rates/timing; TruFlex™ canola

Jim Nagy, Grower – Field operations and canola production experiences, growing Cibus variety

Korey Fauque, KW Insurance – Canola insurance coverage in Montana

Casey Nickol, Ben Taylor Inc. – Crop and chemical rotation, managing residual herbicide

Lyle Benjamin, Grower – Canola production experience, growing NuSeed® DH1

Karen Sowers, PNWCA – Photosyntech conventional spring canola ‘NCC101S’; MSU liming study results

Phil Aschim, Grower – Canola production experience, growing InVigor® LL140P

Chris Berg, BASF – InVigor spring canola

The 40 attendees then drove to Jim’s field of Cibus 40K SU-residual tolerant canola to take a closer look. Jim estimated the field to be at 50% flowering. Brad Birch demonstrated sweep-net techniques and then invited everyone to take a look at the insects in the net. Lots of questions ensued about pest thresholds and the decision to spray or not to spray.

The next stop was Lyle Benjamin’s field of Nuseed ‘fish canola’ – the meal produced from crushing this variety will be used in fish farm rations. The field was seeded May 9, so the plants were still quite small. Earlier seeding was preferred but not possible due to field conditions and other farm operations.

The final stop was at Phil Aschim’s farm near the Sweet Grass Hills. Phil planted InVigor LL140P from BASF, primarily for the pod shatter resistance but also to rotate a different chemistry of herbicides with the use of glufosinate (‘Liberty’). Overall, a great day with plenty of great questions, discussions, and information! Many thanks to all who contributed their time to present and attend, and to Dry Fork Ag and the Pacific Northwest Canola Association for sponsoring the tour.