The Northern Canola Growers Association held its annual election of officers at its recent meeting in Rugby. Officers elected for 2008 were Ryan Pederson of Rolette as President, Tom Borgen of Langdon as Vice President and Kevin Waslaski of Langdon as Secretary/Treasurer.

Additional members of the NCGA board include: Greg Mitchell, Rolla; Bernie Bachman, Langdon; Jon Wert, New England; Eric Mack, Velva; Wally Brandjord, Bottineau; Keith Peltier, Fargo; Brian Jenks, Minot and Chad Effertz, Velva.

The Northern Canola Growers Association is a nonprofit association made up of producers, industry representatives and associate members. The Northern Canola Growers Association works to promote and encourage the establishment and maintenance of conditions favorable to the production, marketing, processing, research and use of canola.

The USDA Risk Management Agency monitors projected Revenue Assurance (RA) prices for various commodities on its website. The currently projected RA Harvest Price for canola is $29.30 per hundredweight. This compares to an RA announced price of $15.20 per hundredweight last year, an increase of 93%. Compared to 2006, this price is 168% higher. RMA calculated values are not final until the discovery period has ended and the price is approved. A final announced Harvest Price will be published at the end of the month.

Canola Demand Outstanding -- The canola crush pace has been on a tear this year and will reach an all-time record. Canola prices have also been on a tear, with prices at crush plants now exceeding $30.00 per hundredweight.

New-crop 2008 prices also moved past $31.00. Specialty canola contracts will be at a $1 - $2 premium over these prices. Canola crush will increase by 50% in North America in the next 18 months due to huge growing demand. The USDA today reported global oilseed stocks for 2007/08 are projected down 22 percent from 2006/07. Canola oil consumption in the U.S. has reached record levels as demand continues to increase.

Join the Northern Canola Growers Association on Wednesday, February 13th in Langdon for its 11th Annual Canola Day. Special guest speakers will be Harry Siemens of Siemens Says. His talk is titled "The Stakes are a lot Higher than you Think!"

Our other guest speaker will be Dr. Jo Liechtin, she will give an inspirational talk on Health: From Farm to Fork. She will speak about the role agriculture plays in providing healthy food to the consumer. You won't want to miss it.

Please see the agenda below.

The USDA’s Risk Management Agency recently announced MPCI price elections for various crops. The price election for canola was set at $13.85 per cwt and is based on a price set for fall planted canola that was established in June. The U.S. Canola Association and the Northern Canola Growers Association have discussed this decision by the RMA and a letter was sent to RMA officials asking that they set an MPCI price election for spring canola as soon as possible since current prices are well in excess of the announced price election. Click on the pdf below to view the letter from USCA President Steve Kakela of Langdon.

RMA officials have verbally committed to re-examine the price election and announce a new price election by mid to late January. The USCA and NCGA will continue to press the issue with RMA to obtain a fair value for canola.

Canola growers also have Revenue Assurance (RA) options for insuring canola. RA prices for canola will be announced in early March. These prices are determined by averaging the daily closing prices of the November canola contract on the Winnipeg Commodity Exchange during the month of February. Current market conditions indicate the RA price will be very strong as current prices for the November contract are approximately $21 per cwt. Canola prices are projected to remain strong. Therefore, the NCGA expects crop insurance coverage for canola to be at historic levels for the 2008 crop.

The Northern Canola Growers Association will hold a Board Meeting on Wednesday, October 17^th, in Fargo, North Dakota.

Larvae and pupae of diamondback moth can now be found in many canola fields in north central and northeast regions of North Dakota. Areas that have been reporting higher numbers include Mohall in Renville County, Bottineau County, Kenmare in Ward County, Cando in Towner County. Be sure to get out and scout canola fields for larvae of diamondback moth from bloom to early pod. The newly hatched larva is light green in color and it turns dark green when mature with a forked posterior end. When larvae are fully grown, they are about ½ inch long. Beat plants into a white bucket to dislodge larvae from plants. After beating plants, count larvae in bucket or dangling from plants on a silk thread. Check several locations per field.
For the early flowering stage, insecticide applications are likely required at larval densities of 10-15 larvae per square foot (one to two larvae per plant). Early monitoring of adults and larvae are critical for preventing losses, especially in flowering canola where larval feeding cause flowers to abort. Diamondback moth larvae will feed on pods after leaf drop, so continue to monitor during pod development. The action threshold for diamondback moth larvae in canola at the pod stage is about 20-30 per square foot (two to three larvae per plant). Heavy rain storms can sometimes decrease moth populations later in the season. Parasitoids can also help keep populations in check below damaging levels.

Janet J. Knodel, PhD

Extension Entomologist

NDSU

701 231-7581

For photos of the diamondback moth view .pdf file below.

The NCGA is no longer able to take registrations for the Minot and Langdon Golf Tournaments to be held immediately following the canola research tours on Wednesday, June 27th and Thursday, July 12th, as the tournaments are filled up.

We thank everyone for their support of the industry.

This year the NCGA is once again teaming up with the North Central Research Extension center in Minot and the Langdon Research Extension Center to give canola growers an in-depth tour of canola research projects. The Minot tour will be held from 9 a.m. to Noon on Wednesday, June 27th. Various topics will be covered including insect and disease management as well as review of new rotation and large plot canola research and biodiesel. A tractor pulling a trailer at the station will be burning canola biodiesel this year as part of the center's continued biodiesel research. Free lunch will be provided.

The Langdon tour will take place on Thursday, July 12 from 9 a.m. to Noon. Following the tours the NCGA will be hosting golf tournaments at the Minot and Langdon Country Clubs. You must pre-register for the golf tournaments. Registration form available by clicking on the .pdf link below.

Canola growers will want to attend the Northern Canola Growers Association Canola Biodiesel Forum on Wednesday, December 13 in Minot to hear the latest developments in the fast-growing biodiesel industry in North Dakota.

BBI International, producers of Biodiesel Magazine will speak about the potential for growth in canola in this region from the booming biodiesel market; Jim Evanoff, fleet manager from Yellowstone National Park will tell of their experiences in using biodiesel and Senator Kent Conrad will give an address about the upcoming Farm Bill and how canola can benefit from the energy boom.

You will also hear why canola biodiesel is the best choice for consumers, learn about new research that shows an easier way to grow canola and increase profits and hear about local production plans in North Dakota. Equipment representatives will also be on hand to speak about biodiesel in farm equipment.

To pre-register, click on the button on the left or call the NCGA at 877-585-1671. Registration is free.

The Northern Canola Growers Association will hold a Board Meeting on Wednesday, October 18^th, in Devils Lake, North Dakota.

North Dakota canola production forecast for the season is projected at 1.12 billion pounds, down 24 percent from 2005. The yield forecast, at 1,200 pounds per harvested acre, is down 240 pounds from last year. Area for harvest, at 930,000 acres, is down 8 percent from last year. We feel this average yield estimate is lower than actual, as many growers have reported excellent yields in 2006, particularly in northern North Dakota. In 2004, the NCGA also felt the USDA October report was low on average yield, and the final report issued in January was more in line with NCGA estimates.

Dakota Skies Biodiesel of Minot will hold its groundbreaking on Friday, August 18, 2006 at 11 a.m. Everyone is invited. The groundbreaking will be held at the construction site North on 72nd Street, off of Highway 2 East in Minot.

For more information, refer to the company website at http://www.dakotaskiesbiodiesel.com/.

New crop 2007 bids from area crush plants eclipsed $13.00 per hundredweight today based off of strong demand for canola oil and concerns over crop conditions. ADM Velva announced a new crop bid of $13.34 for 2007 and Bunge Altona announced a new crop bid of $13.28.

Canola is being crushed at a record pace in North America due to increased supplies and heavy demand. The heavy demand is due to increasing food use as a result of the new transfat labeling requirements in the U.S. and the increasing consumption of canola oil in Europe for biodiesel production. Crush plants in Canada and the U.S. are crushing at record pace to keep up with demand. Supplies in particular for the 2007 crop year are somewhat in doubt, thus we are seeing strong grower prices for canola.

The last time canola exceeded $13.00 per hundredweight was in May 2004. At that time, soybeans were trading over $9.00 per bushel. Soybeans are currently around $5.50, indicating canola has increased its premium over soybeans substantially.

Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada – James Richardson International Limited (JRI) today announced it will build a state-of-the-art canola crushing plant as an expansion of its existing food processing business. At a cost of approximately $100 million, the new plant will be capable of processing 840,000 metric tonnes of canola per year.

JRI is in the final process of evaluating a short list of potential locations for the new plant in Saskatchewan, Manitoba and North Dakota and plans to begin construction in the Fall of 2006. Significant employment opportunities will result from the actual construction of the plant. Operation of the plant will create over 60 new jobs, the vast majority of which are highly skilled positions. The plant’s activities will also have a beneficial effect on related local industries, most notably transportation.

JRI currently owns and operates Canbra Foods Ltd., Canada’s oldest and largest fully integrated canola crushing/refining/processing/packaging plant located in Lethbridge, Alberta. The addition of the new plant will triple JRI’s canola oil production, thereby allowing it to better meet the existing and future needs of its worldwide customer base.

While canola oil produced by the new plant will primarily be destined for human consumption purposes, it also has the potential of supplying an emerging bio-diesel industry which is dependent on canola oil.

The Northern Canola Growers Association, in conjunction with the Langdon Research Extension Center, will host a canola research tour on July 13th, 2006 in Langdon.

The tour begins at 9:00 a.m. and will conclude with a complimentary noon meal for tour participants.

The Northern Canola Growers Association, in conjunction with the North Central Research Extension Center in Minot will host a canola research tour on July 6th, 2006 in Minot.

The tour begins at 9:00 a.m. and will conclude with a complimentary noon meal for tour participants.

This is the sixth year of the Sclerotinia Risk in Canola Forecast Program, a service of the Northern Canola Growers Association, North Dakota State University and the Minnesota Canola Council for North Dakota and Minnesota canola producers.

Just click on the link above to access the maps and information.

The Northern Canola Growers Association is no longer able to accept teams for the golf tournament in Minot on July 6th. The maximum number of teams has already been registered. Thank you to all who plan to attend.

The NCGA and NDSU will also be holding a canola research tour at the Northcentral Research Center from 9 am to noon on July 6th. Research specialists will speak on many new canola research topics at this event.