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Canola News
7/1/2003
CANOLA ACRES EXCEED 1 MILLION IN NORTH DAKOTA
For the fourth year in a row, canola acres in North Dakota will exceed 1 million acres. The USDA issued its June 30th acreage report for the U.S. and indicated 1.05 million acres of canola were planted in North Dakota, a decrease of 19% from the 1.3 million acres planted in 2002. Minnesota canola acreage was listed at 90,000 acres, an increase of 12% from 2002. Total planted canola acreage in the U.S. is 1.2 million, a decrease of 18% from 2002. Other canola data is listed in the following table: *Please see PDF version for copy of the table
CANOLA CROP LOOKING EXCELLENT
Many growers have reported that their canola fields are looking the best they have ever seen in North Dakota. As of June 30th, the North Dakota Agricultural Statistics Service reported that 88% of the canola crop was in the Good to Excellent categories. This compares to 50% at this time last year. Growers have indicated many fields will yield in excess of 2,000 pounds in north central and southwest North Dakota barring any unforeseen weather problems this summer.
Canola crop progress remained ahead of last year and the five-year average with 48 percent blooming compared to 28 percent last year and the five-year average of 41 percent blooming.
STATISTICS CANADA RELEASES JUNE 26 CROP INTENTIONS REPORT
The main highlight relative to Statistic Canada’s first intentions report (released on April 24th) is 0.7 mil more canola acres, largely at the expense of fallow that went down 1.1 mil ac in the same time frame. This lower fallow number is unprecedented for an April to June revision, but shows that farmers viewed canola economics at time of planting to be decent. This extra canola acreage adds about an extra 0.4 MMT of canola to the balance table, all other factors being equal.
Bottom line, the canola acreage estimate exceeded average trade estimates by roughly 0.5 mil ac. Another way of looking at it is that the national balance table now has an additional 1 bu/ac of yield cushion. Supported by recent Chinese veg oil interest and smaller crops in competing canola producing regions, demand for canola has recently been good. In addition, weather forecasts in Saskatchewan look somewhat iffy into the next 1-2 weeks (absence of a general rain in North Central combined with a return to seasonal or above temperatures). Most will now carry a generic canola production estimate around 6.5-6.75 MMT which if is verified, puts at least 1 MMT of demand in a price elastic environment. Combined crush and exports need to top 6 MMT.
—Source: Mike Jubinville, ProFarmer Canada.
NEW MEMBERS APPOINTED TO SBARE
Two new board members were approved by the North Dakota State Board of Higher Education to oversee agriculture research and extension at North Dakota State University.
The board named Jerry Effertz and Tom Borgen to the North Dakota State Board of Agricultural Research and Education at the May meeting.
Effertz, along with his wife Norma, operate a family farm near Velva. Their operation includes purebred Limousine cattle, small grains, oilseeds and forage crops. Effertz is a member of numerous clubs, both state and local. He was chairman of the North Dakota State Fair Association, NDSU North Central Research Extension Center Building Campaign and director of the Souris Basin Revolving Loan Fund Board.
Borgen is from Langdon, where he and his wife Nola operate 1,500 acres of wheat and canola. He is also involved in research and demonstration projects with the NDSU Extension Service, seed companies and crop protection companies. Borgen serves as North Dakota’s representative on the U.S. Canola Association. He has also been a member of the Northern Canola Growers Association, and served as president for six years.
The board was established by the North Dakota Legislature in 1997 with responsibilities to oversee agricultural research and extension at NDSU. Tim Bryan of Bowbells and Jody Hauge of Leith will leave the board on June 30 when their terms expire.
NY STATE DIETETIC ASSOCIATION ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Over 500 dietitians attended the NY State Dietetic Association Conference on May 9. Participants were given dietary fat charts which show the fatty acid profiles of many commonly used vegetable oils and highlight the fact that canola oil has the lowest saturated fat of any vegetable source and has a very high level of monounsaturated fat as well as Omega-3’s. In addition to having the lowest saturated fat, it shows the excellent profile of canola oil.
Many of the dietitians that were familiar with the charts said that they serve as an excellent resource when they are teaching students and patients. Many also stated that they like the high monounsaturated levels in canola oil. Several also noted that some famous chefs also have mentioned the positive attributes of canola oil.
Overall, participants praised the healthy profile of canola oil and were interested in the new types of canola being developed that contain higher levels of oleic acid, lower levels of linolenic acid and even lower levels of saturated fat.
The goal of the Northern Canola Growers Association is to increase the consumption of canola oil in the U.S. The market will continue to be driven by consumer interest in a healthier lifestyle as well as by increasing support from health professionals. Canola oil’s healthy profile puts it in an excellent position to capture more and more of the market.
—Barry Coleman, Executive Director
CARBON CREDITS FAQ
Carbon is one of the largest contributors to world pollution which has our worlds leading nations cracking down on industrial pollutants. Cash for carbon is becoming a hot topic among world industrial polluters who are increasingly being forced to reduce emissions or to purchase credit from landowners or farmers who are sequestering carbon with their farming practices. Carbon credits trading is a still remains a new concept for agriculture producers in the North Dakota and the United States. The idea of sequestering carbon in the soil for cash has many questions that have yet to be answered. Several questions remain such as - how do you measure carbon, how much can we produce and what is carbon worth? These questions and more remain unanswered and are currently being investigated.
What is Carbon Sequestering?
Atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide can be lowered either by reducing emissions or by taking carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere and storing it in terrestrial, oceanic or freshwater aquatic ecosystems. No-till or direct seed operations are one of the best practices to increase carbon sequestering. Direct seed cropping systems have consistently shown the ability to improve soil quality and increase the level of organic matter. Soil organic matter will typically contain 58% carbon which is absorbed from the atmosphere.
How much carbon can my soil
sequester?
This questions remains to be fully answered until further research is conduct to accurately determine the amount of carbon we can produce on our nation’s farm land. Estimates are that a no till operation will sequester carbon as high as ¾ ton CO2 equivalent per acre per year. It is also estimated that the US cropland could possibly sequester 154 million metric tons of carbon per year or 133 percent of the total emissions of greenhouse gases by agricultural and forestry activities.
How much are carbon credits worth?
Reports of the value of carbon purchases have been all over the board. Prices can range from a per acre payment of $.14 to $14.50 per acre.
What are the risks in a sale of carbon credits?
Several potential risks remain for both sellers of carbon credits. There is a risk that a given farming practice will not sequester the amount of carbon expected. Producers who are contracted to supply a certain amount of carbon could potential fall short of their obligations. Another potential risk is market price unknowns. Producers have the market risk that carbon credit prices will rise in the future. A great deal of risk arises from the fact that rules for emission reductions and crediting do not exist. If no regulations limiting emissions are adopted, there will be little demand for emissions reductions. If rules are adopted, those rule will specify what kinds offsets will be creditable. It is possible that carbon sales my not be an acceptable form of offsetting emissions.
PROSPER 400 RECEIVES REGISTRATION ON CANOLA
Prosper 400, a new insecticide seed treatment from Gustafson, received a full registration from the EPA for use on canola on July 1. Prosper 400 contains Clothianidin (TI435), plus carbathiin, metalaxyl and thiram. Prosper 400 will provide protection against flea beetles and seed-borne and other diseases. Gustafson has several large scale plots of Prosper 400 in North Dakota this year located near Norwich, Voltaire, Berthold, and Mohall. Growers are encouraged to contact Kenny Roise at 852-0594 for further information. kroise@gustafson.com
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