Premier canola event set for Feb. 18 in Enid

Thursday, February 11, 2016

Agricultural producers interested in learning how to maximize their canola production should register now to attend the Feb. 18 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 2016.”

There is no cost to attend. Canola College is a joint effort of GPCA, Oklahoma State University’s Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Kansas State University 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 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. Registration is available online at http://www.canola.okstate.edu via the DASNR website.

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

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

According to the organizers, Canola College sessions will focus on variety selection, basic and advanced production practices, management in conventional and conservation tillage systems, the impact of winter wheat stubble on canola establishment, in-season nutrient management and disease and insect management.

“New for 2016 will be the Canola Learning Laboratory where many of the concepts presented throughout the conference will be on display through hands-on demonstrations,” Lofton said. “Participants will be able to interact with specialists, get specific questions answered and learn about the demonstrated concepts.”

Sholar said canola’s importance to the region has increased dramatically since 2010, citing that the Canola College is an “opportunity to understand how the crop can become even more important to all segments of the industry and how to do a better job of producing the crop.”

“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,” he said. “Another key benefit is the opportunity to visit with industry partners who provide the equipment, products and services needed to produce the crop.”

Anyone seeking additional information about the Feb. 18 Canola College should contact Lofton by email at josh.lofton@okstate.edu or by phone at 405-744-3389, or Sholar by email at jrsholar@aol.com or by phone at 405-780-0113.