FRANKFORT, Ky. — When it comes to canola production, Kentucky is not on the radar as a top producer. It’s not even close to states like North Dakota and Oklahoma.

But the idea of growing the crop is gaining traction, with the state’s first canola crushing facility coming online last December. Carrie Knott, a University of Kentucky (UK) College of Agriculture, Food and Environment grain crops extension specialist, is working with state farmers to ramp up production in a way that’s agronomical and economically beneficial for them. "Canola is a really good option for a producer to diversify their operation in terms of economics, and there are some known agronomic benefits to growing canola," she said. "Several years ago, research in Kentucky showed yields of double-crop soybeans increase when they follow canola, compared to following wheat."

Knott pointed out canola is not a new crop here by any means but a reemerging one, especially because the varieties of canola available now are much better suited for conditions in this area.

The market is also good for canola. With a processing facility now in the state, producers no longer have to send their crop long distances, and there is more demand than supply for canola at present.

According to UK, the Hart AgStrong canola crushing facility in Trenton plans to eventually receive between 35,000-70,000 acres of canola when it reaches full capacity. In its first year, it has contracts for 24,000 acres; Kentucky farmers’ crop accounts for between 10,000-11,000 acres.

Knott said prices are comparable to wheat and from a growing perspective, there are advantages in growing canola.

"It helps diversify and spread risk for the producers. The good thing with canola is, it comes off earlier so you can get your double-crop beans in sooner, which increases their yield," she said. "The challenge in the fall is it needs to go in sooner than wheat, and a lot of times the producers may not be finished harvesting corn or some other things."

Another challenge is getting canola into a no-till system because of the size of the seed. "It has such a small seed that it gets placed much better in a conventional tillage system, she explained. "That’s how it’s planted throughout much of the country, but since Kentucky is a no-till state, I’m working very hard to see how we can use science to make growing no-till canola a possibility for more of the state’s producers."

Brian Caldbeck, an agronomist with Caldbeck Consulting, is working with Knott on the canola research. He said about 20 years ago there was an effort in Kentucky to get canola established as a market crop but there were several issues to contend with. Several changes since have rectified those issues.

"I’m from Ireland and we worked with it over there, so we brought over some new hybrids that have better yields here in Kentucky, and really raised the yield performance where now it would be more financially feasible for the farmers to grow it," he said.

That increase in yield has been noticed by producers in other states, which prompted construction of the new processing facility. Caldbeck said the U.S. average yield production is around 30-32 bushels per acre. Some Kentucky producers have seen yields in the 50-range.

He added canola is an excellent feedstock for biodiesel fuel but because of its value in the food oil market, it really isn’t used much for that. In fact, soybean oil is being used more for biodiesel.

"I believe this is an opportunity for the whole region," said Caldbeck.