b"A NEW CANOLAhybrid is drawing atten- of flowering at least five or 10 days earlier, thats tion well beyond the fields of Montana where itpretty exciting for canola growers.was introduced in summer 2025. Bred for resil- The seed has also shown early signs of tough-ience in heat, drought and low-organic soils, thisness in difficult soil. Shelby, Montana, farmer Casey yellow-seeded variety carries the promise of freshNickol ran trials this season in fields hit with dry opportunity for seed companies, for farmers andconditions. for industries looking to source biofuels closer toIt didnt come out of the ground for three home. But promises in agriculture come with con- weeks, he says. Theres napus plots right next to ditions, and stakeholders across the value chainit, and once we got a little bit of rain, [the yellow-are watching closely to see how the seed performsseeded canola] came out and started to flower in in the real world. probably two to three weeks. Were still waiting on At a late-June launch event in Great Falls,the napus to flower.Montana, state and industry leaders gatheredIn early trials across 23 sites from 2022 to 2024, to discuss what this yellow-seeded canola,the variety showed an 8% average yield increase coined InVigor Gold, could mean. The conversa- over traditional canola in hotter, drier environments tions revealed a seed story rooted in decades of data that BASF says it will continue to validate research, shaped by climate realities and driven bybefore full commercial release in 2027.an evolving energy economy.A Different Approach to Weed ControlWeve Found Something That Just Works. For farmers in Montana, resistant weeds arent a Unlike traditional hybrids developed from Brassicafuture threat; theyre a current frustration. napus, the new yellow-seeded canola draws fromWere fighting a lot of resistant wild oats, the hardier Brassica juncea germplasm, which origi- resistant cheatgrass, pigeon grass, Flikkema says. nates from regions like India and Russia. This breed- Were losing the battle. So we need something dif-ing choice wasnt random; it was strategic. ferent to change that.You think about that timeline it was over 30This yellow-seeded canola includes a herbicide-years ago when we started this project, BASFtolerant trait that allows for a different mode of canola agronomy lead Marc Hoobler says. It reallyaction in weed managementan increasingly comes down to the germplasm base that we startedimportant option in areas where common chemis-with. We've found something that just works in atries are losing effectiveness.lower organic matter, higher, drier environment. Weve really seen that introducing [this chem-Thats not just a breeding triumphits anistry] into our rotation has cut down on problem agronomic response to years of climate variabilityweeds like kochia, Nickol says. Not only in the across the Northern Great Plains.crop, but also by helping us make use of acres that Drought, unpredictable yields and shortmightve been left fallow.growing windows are facts of life here, MontanaAccording to BASFs agronomy team, the Governor Greg Gianforte said at the event. Tohybrid can be integrated into existing wheat-based have a strain that will be [drought tolerant] is acropping systems without significant equipment huge step forward. It just gives [farmers] anotherchanges. Trials are also underway to determine best option. practices for seeding rates, seed treatments and herbicide programs tailored to this new canola type.A Seed Designed for StressThis new yellow-seeded canola isnt entirely new.An Oilseed with New Fuel Behind ItIts a close relative of long-standing hybrids alreadyOn the demand side, the potential market for in the market, but it sets itself apart in key ways.Montana-grown canola has never been higher. Most notably, it matures earlierby as much asMontana Renewables vice president for govern-five to seven dayswhich can help crops avoidment relations Krista Evans shared what the crop late-summer heat at flowering. could mean for the states energy infrastructure.Dale Flikkema, a Montana farmer and U.S.Today, our current demand for feedstocks Canola Council vice president, sees the timingif we were to use only canola oil, we would use oil advantage as more than just a technical trait.from about 1.5 million acres of canola, she said. Canola has always been very, very difficult toWith our expansion, that could grow to over three turn a profit, he says. And I've always felt the riskmillion acres.of frost damage in the spring is not as much asThat projection is tied to a $1.4 billion the risk of heat and wind at flowering time in theDepartment of Energy loan to scale Montana summer. So anytime we can push that windowRenewables sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) pro-DECEMBER 2025SEEDWORLD.COM /55"