‘Premier canola event for 2015’ set for Enid

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Agricultural producers interested in learning how to maximize their canola production should register now to attend the Feb. 19 Canola College in Enid.

“It’s a great opportunity to learn from and speak with leading experts in the field, and interact with more than 300 new or veteran canola producers and industry members,” said Ron Sholar, Great Plains Canola Association executive director. “This will be the premier canola education and training event in the region for 2015.”

Canola College is a joint effort of GPCA, Oklahoma State University’s Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Kansas State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Risk Management Agency and cooperating partners in the canola industry.

Registration will begin at 8 a.m. with the program kicking off at 9 a.m. and finishing at 3:30 p.m. The conference will take place at the Chisholm Trail EXPO Center, located at 111 W. Purdue St. on the north side of Enid. There is no cost to attend. Registration is available online at http://www.canola.okstate.edu via the division website.

“Although participants can register at the door, we ask everyone to pre-register as soon as possible because it greatly aids our planning and helps ensure that sufficient numbers of conference materials, refreshments and meals are on hand,” said Josh Bushong, OSU Cooperative Extension canola specialist.

Bushong said lunch and refreshments are being provided free-of-charge to participants, thanks to the generous sponsorship of canola industry members.

“There will be four concurrent breakout sessions and participants will have the opportunity to hear from every expert taking part in a particular session,” he said.

Sessions will focus on basic production practices, advanced production practices, soil fertility and soil health for canola production and canola economics. In addition, pest management experts from OSU will be at the Canola College to discuss weed, insect and disease identification and control.

“Canola College provides value, whether you’re a grower, crop insurance agent, member of an agricultural government agency or a canola service or product provider,” Sholar said. “A key benefit of attending is the opportunity to visit with industry partners who provide the equipment, products and services needed to produce the crop.”

Canola acreage for the region has increased dramatically since 2010. There are approximately 300,000 acres planted in the southern Great Plains states this year.

Anyone seeking additional information about the Feb. 19 Canola College should contact Bushong by email at josh.bushong@okstate.edu or by phone at 405-744-9600, or Sholar by email at jrsholar@aol.com or by phone at 405-780-0113.