Canola is an important oilseed crop that is well adapted to the environmental conditions of northwestern Minnesota. Canola provides valuable crop rotation benefits and contributes to diversification of the cropping systems in northwest Minnesota. With the increased interest in growing canola, information on variety performance in the target area of northwestern Minnesota is critical to the success of the growers. Variety trials are conducted annually using best management practices near Roseau, MN to provide this important information.
Canola field crop variety trial data
2025 canola field crop variety trial narrative
The 2025 Canola Production Center (CPC) was located on the Magnusson farm just west of Roseau, Minnesota, on the south side of Highway 11. Primary and final seedbed tillage was done by Magnusson Farms.
The previous crop was oats. A spring fertilizer rate of 140-20-30-20s was applied and incorporated on May 7 with the final seedbed preparation. Planting was done on May 8. Early spring weather conditions immediately after planting were hot and dry which lead to uneven germination rates. The remainder of the planting emerged after rainfall on May 15. The differential emergence prevented some meaningful notes from being taken that are normally included in our annual summaries. Flea beetle pressure at emergence was moderate. Most or all of the seed lots in the variety trial seemed to have an effective seed treatment that was effective in controlling injury symptoms to the canola. A post emergent treatment of 2 oz/acre Grizzly Too (LAMBDACYHALOTHRIN) was applied with a grass herbicide for flea beetle control on May 24.
The canola variety trial was seeded with a Hege small plot seeder with double disk openers. Plots were rolled with a Brillion cultipacker after planting. Canola seeding rate was 10-12 pure live seeds (PLS)/ft.2 as provided by the seed company submitting the entry. 10 lbs/acre of spring wheat was planted with canola to aid emergence and lessen potential wind damage. Individual plots were seeded on 6 ft. x 30 ft. centers. Experimental design was four replications in a randomized complete block design. General weed control was done with applications of either Roundup PowerMax at 24 oz. to TruFlex varieties or Liberty at 28 oz. to LL varieties. Labeled adjuvants were combined with all herbicides. Because of unevenness of emergence and bloom, 2 applications of Proline were applied for white mold control. Typically applied at first petal fall/30% bloom, the first application of Proline was applied on June 27 and a second application on July 2. A weather event with pea to marble size hail that occurred on August 12 but did not seem to have a large effect on canola growth and development. Plots were swathed on August 9 and combining was completed on September 9, 2025.
Test Plot Research Personnel
Dave Grafstrom, Donn Vellekson and Nancy Ehlke supervised canola variety trial field management and data summary.
Submitting companies and contact information
| Contact | Phone | |
|---|---|---|
| Jordan Varberg | 701-740-3324 | [email protected] |
| Todd Coulter | 765-242-3161 | [email protected] |
| Ryan Fisher | 701-566-1277 | [email protected] |
| Courtney Welch | 204-479-6396 | [email protected] |
| Alan Scott | 507-317-1046 | [email protected] |
| Jim Johnson | 701-361-8958 | [email protected] |