Expanding the Production of Winter Canola in Alabama.

Farmers in the southeastern U.S. are in an excellent position to profit by supplying the expanding market for canola. Mild winters, adequate winter rainfall, a potential for double-cropping and the availability of local oil processing facilities make the southeastern region including Alabama a promising location for canola production. Increased interest in canola production in the southern region was predicated by local producers of its potential as renewable feedstock for biodiesel production driven by the rise in global energy demand, depletion of fossil fuel sources and environmental risks associated with greenhouse gas emissions and climatic change. However, in order for winter canola to become an alternative winter rotation crop and to consequently increase the number of producers and acreages in the region, factors impacting sustainability of the crop must be addressed. These factors include: (1) identification and adoption of high yielding canola cultivars that are best for nutritious seed oil, quality animal feed and renewable feedstock for bioenergy; (2) promote outreach and farmer education through experimental on-farm demonstration plots and develop extension materials for farmers on various aspects of producing winter canola including planting, cultivation, harvest, and canola seed processing from seed to oil; and (3) cultivate partnership between farmers and industries to sustain and support expansion of canola production in the region. This presentation will also discuss results from commercial production of winter canola in Alabama since 2008.