Journal of the Department of , Western Australia, Series 4

Volume 36 Number 1 1995 Article 3

1-3-1995

Canola : golden oil for farmers and consumers

Paul Carmody

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Recommended Citation Carmody, Paul (1995) "Canola : golden oil for farmers and consumers," Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4: Vol. 36 : No. 1 , Article 3. Available at: https://researchlibrary.agric.wa.gov.au/journal_agriculture4/vol36/iss1/3

This article is brought to you for free and open access by Research Library. It has been accepted for inclusion in Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4 by an authorized administrator of Research Library. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]. It is feasible that canola could become Western Australia's fourth largest crop after , and lupins by the turn of the century.

- golden oil for farmers and consumers

Without the stigma attached to its parent crop, rapeseed, canola has also become one of the most successful international agricultural product launches, proving itself not only a useful cropping alternative but a healthy oil for consumers. State Oilseeds Adviser PAUL CARMODY sets the scene.

Canola is one of the fastest Growers pursuing high yielding expanding broadacre in cropping packages are using Western Australia, indeed canola to extend their rotation to Australia, and its future is looking five years, for example wheat• bright. About 112,000 tonnes canola-barley-lupins- or averaging 40.3 per cent oil - canola-barley-lupins-wheat-oats. excellent considering the dry year Canola also spreads the farm - were delivered into Co-operative workload over harvest. Bulk Handling bins across Western Australia last harvest; more than double the previous 46,500 t, Favourable returns which was four times that of 1992. According to the MIDAS whole farm economic model for the Great In 1994-95the gross value of canola Making the break Southern (500-600mm rainfall produced in Western Australian zone), net farm income is will exceed $38 million, most of it Canola has benefit as a break-crop, bringing flexibilityto tired crop maximised when canola is sold by the Grain Pool as included in the cropping program. unprocessed seed to Japan. rotations. Manywheatbelt farmers are moving from continuous With an on-farm canola price of Production in the eastern States wheat-lupin rotations as they only $260 per tonne and a wool has increased also from about encounter more disease and market indicator of 800 cents per 55,000 tin 1984 to 300,000 tin herbicide resistance. Growing kilogram clean, this has meant for 1993.Droughtlastyearreduced canola after lupins not only an average farm of 1000ha that net the harvest to less than 200,000 t, provides two break-crops between farm income is increased, the making Western Australia the each wheat planting but also amount depending on canola yield. leading producer for the first time. extends the time between lupin This model is based on a five-year crops. Advantages include less cropping rotation where canola Farmers are turning to canola for disease, better grass weed yield averages 1.4 t/ha on typical several reasons including management and increased long• gravel soils of the Great Southern. uncertainty in the wool market, term gross margins. volatile coarse grain prices, Canola production costs range dissatisfaction with lupin returns The cereal crop followingcanola from $180 to $240/ha- about in southern cropping areas, and will have less root disease thanks double that for wheat or barley, consistent yields from new canola to canola's 'bio-fumigation' with the main expense being extra varieties in medium rainfall areas. properties. Some eastern States fertiliser and harvesting costs. Wool and wheat farmers are data suggest that canola residues Harvesting costs vary depending including it in rotations as a risk actually suppress the development on whether the farmer is relying on management strategy in volatile of soil-borne pathogens that attack contractors or has existing markets and as a break-crop. cereals. machinery which can manage the crop, as most do in the wheatbelt.

W.A. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTIJRE Vol. 36 1995 9 After the fungal disease known as blackleg destroyed more than 35,000 ha of rapeseed in 1972the Australian industry realised it could not rely on overseas breeding programs. The Department of Agriculture established its own breeding program with the appointment of Dr Narendra Roy in 1975. Breeding programs were also established in the eastern States, one under the direction of Greg Buzza at the Self-propelled swathers such as this Macdon 9600 on Terra Nova farm at Capercup Dryland Crops Research Institute are often used by contractors. in Horsham, Victoria, and a second by Neil Wratten for the NSW But high costs are offset by better Crops are delivered to Co• Department of Agriculture at returns - last year about $310 to operative Bulk Handling bins which Wagga Wagga. $315per tonne net on the farm. usually open from late October in the northern wheatbelt and later in These were connected into a Current varieties yield about 60 to cooler areas. national program in 1980. Canola 70 per cent of wheat grown under research now concentrates on similar conditions, an increase identifying varieties suitable for from about half the wheat yield of National breeding program different areas and evaluating rapeseed varieties grown during Western Australia's rapeseed interstate and overseas varieties. the early 1970s. industry began with the varieties Ario and Target which were Dr Narendra Roy was responsible Maturing crops are frequently derived from Canadian breeding for development and release of windrowed or swathed before programs. The main growing areas two blackleg-resistant rapeseed harvesting to prevent grain loss were then bounded by Katanning, varieties, Wesbrook and through shattering and to allow Mount Barker and Boyup Brook. Wesroona, in 1984.Local even ripening. This is not essential However, yields were often very production had then fallen to 200 t in all districts. Growers in drier low because of inappropriate a year. eastern and northern wheatbelt management - poor paddock can direct head (harvest standing selection, inadequate harvest His last variety, Narendra, released crops) to reduce costs. equipment and low resistance to in 1991, is now the second most blackleg. widely grown in Western Australia. Royalties from this variety have been used to finance the salary of

10 WAJOURNALOFAGRICULTURE Vol.36 1995 Flowering canola crop near Moora.

Low levels of saturatedfat make it highly desirablefor use in foods and cooking products.

Canola Development Officer, Meadow Lea buys about 4500 mono-unsaturated fatty acid ( oleic Matthew Appelbee, who began tonnes of unrefined oil annually for acid) among the major vegetable work in Katanning in August 1994. processing at its Bunbury refinery oils after olive oil at 77 per cent. He provides support to the canola and then packaging at Palmyra. Both of these factors make it research and extension program of highly desirable for use in foods the Department of Agriculture, Shortfalls in domestic and cooking products. which is primarily funded by the requirements for canola oil are Grains Research and Development made up by imports of oil Canola meal contains up to 35 per Corporation. from overseas, usually South cent crude protein which is about America. 7 per cent more than lupins. It also Matthew's work will include a has a more favourable range of survey of the slug problem that Canola can be used in a diverse amino acids than lupins for pig or emerged in crops in 1994 and array of products which helps act poultry rations. The biggest users improving quality control of canola as a price buffer against large are local broiler producers taking seed production. supply changes. Even with floods up to 90 t each week. Other users in the American mid-west or a big include stock feed manufacturers chill in Canada, the canola price and the local horse industry. Local processing tends to be less volatile than wool When crushed, canola seed yields or wheat. Department of Agriculture trials more than 40 per cent oil and the have illustrated that increased Canola oil contains very low levels rest is meal. Davison Industries, milk production can be achieved of saturated fatty acids (7 per with a factory at Pinjarra capable by using canola meal in dairy cent) compared with olive oil (14 of processing over 20,000 t of rations as a substitute for other per cent). It has the second canola seed each year, is currently protein supplements such as highest level (60 per cent) of the only local oilseed crusher in fish meal. Western Australia.

WA JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE Vol. 36 1995 11 Origins of rapeseed an canola Other products being developed History of rapeseed (and The name 'canola' was born by Davisons are canola dog subsequently canola) in with its initial registration by biscuits and stock blocks for cattle Australia is comparatively short. the Western Canadian Oilseed and sheep which contain up to 20 Although known in Europe Crushers Association for oil, per cent canola meal. during the thirteenth century, it meal, seed and seed hulls was not grown extensive1yuntil produced from this variety. The the advent of steam power when term was derived from the Canola Check rapeseed oil was found to clfng words Canada and oleic, Canola Check is a product of the to water and steam-washed referring.to-the oleic acid in the Department's concerted extension metal surfaces better than any oil which produces good frying program to promote canola into other lubricant. characteristics. the farming system and to promote good management. Critical shortages of rapeseed oil To gain the title of canola, a during World War Il brought rapeseed variety must contain Twenty three groups consisting of Canada into production to less than 2 per cent erucic acid 10 to 15 growers meet up to four supply the urgent need for in the oil and less than 30 times a year in local areas. Agents, lubricant for the rapidly micromoles of glucosinolates in consultants and private expanding numbers of steam the meal. agronomists are encouraged to engines in allied naval and organise meetings in conjunction merchant ships. Both of these compounds are with Canola Specialist Advisers. undesirable in high The first edible rapeseed oil was concentrations and they The idea was first developed in extracted in Canada in 1956 previously limited rapeseed use NSW and adapted to Western when its significance as a food in human and animal feedstuffs. Australia from 1992. crop was realised. However, nutritional aspects were Today canola has been adopted Growers learn how to improve questioned by health authorities worldwide. Canada is the major their yields and returns beyond during the 1960sand Breeders exporter with more than 40 per the district average. They also responded rapidly to reduce its cent of the world market and exchange ideas, identify weed and erucic acid content. producing about 7 million insect problems and obtain tonnes last season. feedback on gross margins. In 1974the first 'double-low' rapeseed variety was released in Rapeseed is still grown by major Manitoba, Canada, with both low producers such as China, EEC erucic acid and glucosinolate and India who have been slow levels. This variety was to adopt the superior varieties eventually to become known as in terms of quality standards set Tower. by Canada and Australia.

...... -·" +~ DAVISON

Stock blocks for sheep and cattle and dog biscuits are among newer products made from canola meal by Davison Industries at Pinjarra.

12 WA JOURNAL OF AGRJCULTIJRE Vol. 36 1995 120 State Oilseeds Adviser, Paul Carmody, travels widely around the agricultural areas attending field days and farmer 100 meetings. ----Area sown '000 ha 80 ---- Production '000 tonnes Area and production of Western 60 Australian rapeseed/canola have increased dramatically, particularly in the last few years.

1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995

Production areas eMullewa

eMorawa MAJOR Dongara

• Kalannie DEVELOPING • Moora • Bencubbin

Merredin• PERTH

Grass Patch Willia~ •Narrogin /' \ •

Cano/a is now widely grown in the State's agricultural areas. Initial growing area for rapeseed enclosed by dashed line.

W.A. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE Vol. 36 1995 13 Warnings for new players CANO LA Canola now belongs in the farming CRUSHING (SEEDS) system but requires a systematic approach for efficient production. It can no longer be seen as a quick fix crop to overcome poor cash flow. Production has a lead time of one year and paddock selection and preparation need to be one, if not two years in advance. Canola is adapted to many Western Australian soil types except deep white sands and those prone to waterlogging. Avoid paddocks high in broad-leaved weeds, especially the related cruciferous plants, radish, turnip and mustard. Only diligent weed management over many years will allow these paddocks to become suitable for canola. One triazine-resistant canola variety, Siren, is now available allowing weeds to be sprayed without damaging the crop, and improved varieties are expected in the next couple of years. But this will never be a replacement for good weed management elsewhere in the farming system. Cruciferous weeds have been seen as a major constraint for the industry in Western Australia. In future, better management of weeds through use of on-farm weed seed harvesting systems, strategic herbicide programs and planned rotations should lead to fewer of these weeds in the Bio-fuel prospects wheatbelt. Besides diverse uses in human and develop this technology and export Such weeds not only compete with animal feeds and lubricants, it to other environmentally the crop but are a serious threat to exciting new prospects could conscious countries. quality. A limit of 4 per cent dry develop for rapeseed/canola as a weight of any of these weed seeds bio-fuel Such crops could provide New rapeseed lines with higher applies to maintain the high renewable, environmentally levels of erucic acid - High Erucic standard of canola in Western friendly I sources and it is Acid Rapeseed or HEAR oils Australia. & feasible that within ten years containing up to 55 per cent erucic Western Australian farmers in low acid - may soon be available also. rainfall areas could be growing These are favoured by chemists for their own Iubricants and fuel. industrial use as a substitute for Paul Carmody is the State mineral oils. Oilseeds Adviser based European areas for bio-fuel at Katanning. production have grown to 500,000 At present only a few HEARoil ha within o years, mostly in varieties are being developed in For more information Italy. France and Germany. contact Paul or Australia and the industry is concerned about the need for Matthew Applebee on The mining industry h already expressed interest in the use of segregation from canola. Until this (098) 213 333 vegetable oils as a lubricant in question is resolved, adoption of drilling operations. Western HEAR varieties will lag behind Australia is in a prime position to Europe, Canada and the United States.

14 W .A. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTIJRE Vol. 36 1995