Canola could make a comeback in the heartland's fields.

"The biggest problem has been to identify winter-hardy varieties that would stand up consistently to Midwestern conditions," says Anthony Young, professor emeritus in the College of Agricultural Sciences.

"We have just now gotten to the point where we are consistently getting good survival rates for 10 or 12 varieties. Our mission over the next few years is to increase the acreage grown."

Young heads the Midwest Regional Canola Research Program, one of six such programs set up a decade ago by the U.S. Canola Association to solve regional production problems. His region consists of 19 states--from Michigan south to Kentucky and east to Virginia--with scientists from SIUC, Purdue, Michigan State, Ohio State, and Virginia State conducting the research.

Demand is high for canola, whose oil is rich in heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids, but growers in this country can't begin to meet the need. The United States imports nearly all of the canola it uses.

Canola got a bad reputation in southern Illinois during the late '80s and early '90s when farmers lost virtually their entire crop several years running. That won't happen again, Young believes.

"We have taken about 400 lines developed out of the Kansas State University breeding program and tested them under local conditions," he says. "We are also taking the best of these and making crosses with some of our local varieties." One of those crosses will soon be released into national variety evaluation trials.

"With all that effort and the success we've had, we are now ready to go back to the producers and say, 'We will work with you to get the right varieties for your situation.'"

--by K. C. Jaehnig, Media & Communication Resources

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