Photo credit: Scoular.
Renewable diesel production is forecast to reach a record high this year, with increases expected in 2027 and beyond, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. U.S. farmers planted nearly 3 million acres of canola in 2026, up 27% from the year before. In Kansas and Oklahoma, canola acres have increased to more than 50,000, up from about 15,000 acres three years ago.
Canola oil is an important renewable diesel feedstock, providing the oil needed to produce a lower-carbon alternative to traditional diesel fuel. To meet this demand, Scoular opened an oilseed crush facility in Goodland, Kansas, two years ago with a capacity to crush hundreds of thousands of canola acres. There still is time to plant winter canola, with a window of Sept. 1-30 in Kansas and Sept. 10-Oct. 10 in Oklahoma.
A wheat-canola rotation can increase profitability by up to 20% compared with a continuous wheat rotation, said Jeff Frazier, Scoular market development manager. He shared that and other management advice and resources this month at producer meetings targeting High Plains locations, including Enid, Oklahoma, and Kingman, Kansas.
Producer Joe Hadwiger farms in north-central Oklahoma and grows winter canola. He said he has experienced increased profits on his wheat acres because of his canola rotation. The rotation also helped keep weeds down on his wheat acres and makes his soil healthier.
“That big tap root on canola just makes the soil work a little better and opens it up,” Hadwiger said.
While adding canola to a wheat rotation can require new management practices, a barrier for some producers, Scoular provides tools and training through its Canola MVP program. Scoular also offers delivery points across Oklahoma and Kansas.
“Scoular will connect producers with resources, so they will be confident in planting winter canola and experience the benefits,” Frazier said. “Along with the market opportunities, many growers also see agronomic benefits from the rotation, including improved wheat stands and forage quality for grazing. Seed genetics also have come a long way in recent years, resulting in a more resilient canola crop.”
Source: Scoular, "Kansas, Oklahoma canola acres climb as renewable diesel drives demand"