DEPI scientists discover the secret to boosting canola yields in high-rainfall areas

Department of Environment and Primary Industries (DEPI) scientists have made a discovery that could prove beneficial to canola growers all over the country.

Apparently canola growers in regions that experience high levels of rainfall can boost their productivity by simply growing long-season varieties of the crop.

Minister for Agriculture and Food Security Peter Walsh explained that DEPI scientists found annual yields of canola in high-rainfall areas were up to 60 per cent greater when long-season varieties were planted.

The research shows that "production levels rise by an estimated 39,000 tonnes ... when replacing short-seasoned canola varieties with long-season varieties," he said, which equates to an extra $18.4 million per year.

This potentially game-changing discovery was made as part of an ongoing study that's being funded by the Victorian government's "Growing Food and Fibre" program. This will see $61.4 million going toward research and development in dairy, red meat, grains and horticultural industries over the next four years.

Mr Walsh said in a February 13 statement that Victoria's canola industry has already expanded by leaps and bounds over the past few years. He believes the DEPI scientists' discovery could open the door for "exponential growth" in the state's high-rainfall areas.

Victoria's canola growers can now opt for long-season varieties of canola "with the confidence of knowing it has performed well in rigorous and peer-reviewed trials conducted by the state's leading agricultural scientists," concluded Mr Walsh.

According to the DEPI, Australian farmers produce between two and three million tonnes of oilseed crops every 12 months. Over 90 per cent of those crops are canola and cottonseed.

All canola growers looking to protect their income may want to consider taking out crop insurance. This will make sure you're not left high and dry if a damage-causing incident affects your crops, such as a severe weather event or livestock intrusion.