Canola Growers Go Back to College

Canola growers are going back to college to improve their agronomic return. Agronomists with the Canola Council of Canada have organized and will be running "Canola College 2004." The college is a one-day symposium featuring topnotch speakers making presentations on new and upcoming agronomic tools that will improve your canola net returns. Several presentations will use interactive diagnostic techniques to demonstrate how to deal with canola production issues. "If you want to stay sharp on the latest and best information out there, it is a must attend event," said Randy Betcher, President, Manitoba Canola Growers Association (MCGA).

MCGA saw the opportunity to the sold out event, and reserved three seats at the "Canola College." During Ag Days, at the MCGA booth, entries were taken for the three seats. Winners Scott Routledge, Kenton, Gerald Mangin, Mariapolis and Chris Kulbacki, Neepawa are the lucky growers that will be attending the Brandon event.

Reviewing the market and also ensuring crop establishment to maximize crop yield potential is key to maximizing a grower’s return. Betcher commented, "before you can maximize your returns you need to ensure you lay the foundation for maximizing crop yield potential and Canola College will provide growers an opportunity to learn more about maximizing their returns from the bottom up."

The main focus of this year’s "Canola College" is crop establishment. In past years, one of the obstacles to maximum returns has been getting the crop properly established. Recent challenges to crop establishment have been drought, pests and diseases. Most of the presentations will focus on how to deal with these challenges to ensure good crop establishment.

MCGA is a non-profit organization made up of members, Directors and staff whose mandate is to enhance profitability for Manitoba canola growers through research, marketing and policy.

For More Information Contact:

Bill Ross
Executive Manager
Manitoba Canola Growers Association
(204) 982-2120 or (204) 729-1328
rossb@mcgacanola.org

Randy Betcher
President
Manitoba Canola Growers Association
(204) 525-4433
betcherr@mb.sympatico.ca

Derwyn Hammond
Agronomist, Canola Council of Canada
(204) 729-9011 or (204) 724-0275
hammondd@canola-council.org