New cropping options likely to continue into 2013

At least three crops will see big acreage increases in Western Canada next year: soybeans, chickpeas and carinata.

Brassica carinata is a brand new cropping option. In the same family as canola and mustard, carinata is being championed by the biotech company Agrisoma for the oil’s potential as a bio-jet fuel. Carinata, also known as Ethiopian mustard, takes longer to mature than canola, but it survives hot, dry conditions better.

In 2012, Agrisoma contracted with 40 growers who each grew 100 to 200 acres of the crop. Most growers had good results. Yields of 30 and even 40 bu. per acre were attained. At a price of $12.50 per bu., plus a new crop incentive of $40 per acre, most growers are pleased.

Agrisoma has not announced the contract details for 2013, but the company is targeting a 10-fold acreage increase.

At 50,000 to 75,000 acres, carinata will still be a minor acreage crop, but that could change dramatically in subsequent years if all the pieces fall into place on the aviation fuel side of the equation.