Variety Testing
The Washington Oilseeds project host large-scale variety strip trials of winter and spring canola in the Pacific Northwest each growing season. The large-scale variety trials are used to study the performance of canola varieties at the field scale across the region. In addition to measuring yield, these variety trials are used to analyze the effects of stand establishment, pod count, and nutrient status on yield. The University of Idaho also hosts regional variety trials which can be found here [For Growers | Brassica Breeding & Research | University of Idaho (uidaho.edu)].
Variety Testing Program Needs Canola Seed
Jesse Ford is the new extension oilseed agronomist at Washington State University and is working to expand the oilseed variety testing program. Previously, Jesse was a graduate student under Dr. Isaac Madsen at WSU and assisted with Dr. Madsen’s variety trial work. Jesse also has experience working in the variety testing program at the University of Illinois. The variety testing program is intended to provide Washington state canola producers with unbiased analysis of canola cultivar performance in the region.
This year we anticipate placing 5-10 small plot variety trials and 2-4 large scale variety trials for spring canola this year across eastern Washington. Exact locations of all trials are currently fluid, but the expectation is that trials will be placed within a region extending from Davenport to Spokane and down to Pullman and Walla Walla, representing the majority of dryland canola production in Washington. Yield, oil content and other data will be collected from the trials and posted on the WOCS website following harvest. Each variety trial will likely be the site of an extension field day.
Seed requirements are 3 lbs. per variety for small plot trials and 35 lbs. per variety for large-scale trials. Ideally, we would like nontreated seed samples. If nontreated seed are unavailable, please submit treated seed. Seed should be delivered to 303 6th St, Davenport, WA 99122 by March 15th.
Your support of the variety testing program is greatly appreciated. For further information please contact Jesse Ford, 509-990-6316.
WSU/USDA-ARS Variety Testing Data
- 2023 Spring Canola Variety Trials (pdf)
- 2022 Spring and 2021-22 Winter Canola Large-scale Variety Trial yield results (pdf)
- 2021 Winter Canola Large Scale Variety Trial yield results (pdf)
- 2020 Variety Trials (pdf)
- 2019 Spring Canola Variety Trials (pdf)
- 2018 Large-scale Spring and Winter Canola Variety Trials
- 2017 Large-scale Spring Canola Variety Trials (Almira, Pullman, Walla Walla) – yield results (pdf)
- 2016-17 Large-scale Winter Canola Variety Trial (Odessa, Ralston, St. John) – yield results (pdf)
- 2015-16 Winter Canola Variety Trial (Pomeroy, WA) (pdf)
- 2016 Large-scale Spring Canola Variety Trials (Davenport, Fairfield, St. John) – final report (pdf)
- 2014-15 Winter Canola Variety Trials (Pomeroy and Okanogan, WA) (pdf)
Here are links to other variety testing programs:
- University of Idaho
- Canola Performance Trials (Canada)
- Montana State University
- Kansas State University
- North Dakota State University
- Ford, J., I. Madsen, and K. Sanguinet. 2023. Measuring and Modeling the Impact of Plant Dimensions of Winter Canola on Winter Survival (pdf). p. 47. In 2023 Dryland Field Day Abstracts: Highlights of Research Progress. Dept. of Crop and Soil Sciences Tech Report 23-1, WSU, Pullman, WA.
- Neely, C., I. Madsen, B. Gerrish, J. Conner, and J. Ford. 2023. Do Winter Wheat Cultivars Impact Spring Canola Stand Establishment Differently? (pdf) p. 42. In 2023 Dryland Field Day Abstracts: Highlights of Research Progress. Dept. of Crop and Soil Sciences Tech Report 23-1, WSU, Pullman, WA.
- Ford, J. and I.J. Madsen, 2021. Winter Survival Results from Ralston Winter Canola Variety Trial (pdf). p. 65. In 2021 Dryland Field Day Abstracts: Highlights of Research Progress. Dept. of Crop and Soil Sciences Tech Report 21-1, WSU, Pullman, WA.
- Madsen, I.J. 2021. Plant Density and Pod Count Variation Within Large-Scale Variety Trials (pdf). p. 56. In 2021 Dryland Field Day Abstracts: Highlights of Research Progress. Dept. of Crop and Soil Sciences Tech Report 21-1, WSU, Pullman, WA.
- Madsen, I.J. 2021. Spring and Winter Canola Large Scale Variety Trials (pdf). p. 57. In 2021 Dryland Field Day Abstracts: Highlights of Research Progress. Dept. of Crop and Soil Sciences Tech Report 21-1, WSU, Pullman, WA.
- Madsen, I.J. 2020. Plant Density Variation Within Large Scale Variety Trials (pdf). p. 17. In 2020 Dryland Field Day Abstracts: Highlights of Research Progress. Dept. of Crop and Soil Sciences Tech Report 20-1, WSU, Pullman, WA.
- Madsen, I.J. 2020. Pod Count Variation Across Large-Scale Variety Strip Trials (pdf). p. 18. In 2020 Dryland Field Day Abstracts: Highlights of Research Progress. Dept. of Crop and Soil Sciences Tech Report 20-1, WSU, Pullman, WA.
- Madsen, I.J. 2020. Spring Canola Large Scale Variety Trials (pdf). p. 16. In 2020 Dryland Field Day Abstracts: Highlights of Research Progress. Dept. of Crop and Soil Sciences Tech Report 20-1, WSU, Pullman, WA.
- Sowers, K., D. Roe, S. Hulbert, L. Molsee, D. Stenbakken, A. Esser, K. Curran, D. Appel, J. DeMacon, R. Sloot, R. Zuger, D. Whaley, D. Wysocki, B. Tuck, and K. Bender. 2019. WSU-WOCS Large-Scale Canola Variety Trials (pdf). p. 29-31. In 2019 Dryland Field Day Abstracts: Highlights of Research Progress. Dept. of Crop and Soil Sciences Tech Report 19-1, WSU, Pullman, WA.
- Sowers, K., D. Roe, S. Hulbert, L. Molsee, D. Stenbakken, A. Esser, and K. Curran. 2018. Large-Scale Canola Variety Trials – An Outreach Success Story (pdf). In 2018 Dryland Field Day Abstracts: Highlights of Research Progress. Dept. of Crop and Soil Sciences Tech Report 18-1, WSU, Pullman, WA.
- Davis, J.B., M. Wingerson, A. Job, A. Wernsing, D. Wysocki, A. Esser, and J. Brown. 2018. 2017 Pacific Northwest Variety Trial Results (pdf). In 2018 Dryland Field Day Abstracts: Highlights of Research Progress. Dept. of Crop and Soil Sciences Tech Report 18-1, WSU, Pullman, WA.
- Schillinger, B., R. Jirava, C. Hennings, and J. Jacobsen. 2017. Brassica rapa Type Winter Canola Varieties in East-Central Washington (pdf). In 2017 Dryland Field Day Abstracts: Highlights of Research Progress. Dept. of Crop and Soil Sciences Tech Report 17-1, WSU, Pullman, WA.
- Sowers, K., A. Esser, D. Appel, D. Roe, B. Pan, and D. Stenbakken. 2017. Large-Scale Spring Canola Variety Trials in Eastern Washington – 2016 Results (pdf). In 2017 Dryland Field Day Abstracts: Highlights of Research Progress. Dept. of Crop and Soil Sciences Tech Report 17-1, WSU, Pullman, WA.
- Young, F., D. Whaley, D. Roe, L. Molsee, and L. McGrew. 2016. Winter Canola Variety Trials in the Low to Intermediate-Rainfall Zone of Washington (pdf). In 2016 Dryland Field Day Abstracts: Highlights of Research Progress. Dept. of Crop and Soil Sciences Tech Report 16-1, WSU, Pullman, WA.
- Hulbert, S., B. Schillinger, and D. Huggins. 2008. Winter Canola and Camelina Variety Testing Trials (pdf). In 2008 Field Day Abstracts: Highlights of Research Progress. Dept. of Crop and Soil Sciences Tech. Report 08-1, WSU, Pullman, WA.
Visit the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences site to see all the CSS Field Day Abstracts.
- 2018 Oilseed Workshops
- Variety Selection: On-Farm Canola Variety Trials (pdf)
Aaron Esser, WSU Ext. and Karen Sowers, WSU - Winter Canola: Selecting Consistent and Resilient Varieties (pdf)
Mike Stamm, Kansas State University
- Variety Selection: On-Farm Canola Variety Trials (pdf)
- 2015 PNW Oilseed and Direct Seed Cropping Systems Conference
- Twenty Years of Canola Variety Performance in the Pacific Northwest (pdf)
Bradley Pakish, Jim B. Davis, Megan Wingerson and Jack Brown, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID - Results of the 2014 Pacific Northwest Canola and Mustard Trials (pdf)
Jim B. Davis,1 Bradley Pakish,1 Megan Wingerson,1 and Jack Brown,1 Alan Wernsing,2 and Don Wysocki;2 1University of Idaho, Moscow, ID and 2Oregon State University, Pendleton, OR - Oilseed Variety Performance & Research – University Perspective (Video):
- Jack Brown (pdf) – University of Idaho
- Mike Stamm (pdf) – Kansas State University
- Frank Young (pdf) – USDA-ARS
- Canola Variety Selection & Research – Industry Perspective (Video):
- Twenty Years of Canola Variety Performance in the Pacific Northwest (pdf)
- 2014 WSU and PNDSA Conference
- Bayer CropScience – 2014 Variety and Research Update (pdf)
Brian Hrudka – Canola and Wheat Seed Manager, Research Triangle Park, NC
- Bayer CropScience – 2014 Variety and Research Update (pdf)
- 2012 Bioenergy Research Symposium
- 2012 Oilseed Crop Production Workshop
- Oilseed Variety Selection Considerations (pdf)
Jim Davis and Jack Brown, University of Idaho
- Oilseed Variety Selection Considerations (pdf)
- 2011 Oilseed Crop Production Workshop
- Oilseed Variety Selection (pdf)
Jim Davis and Jack Brown, University of Idaho
- Oilseed Variety Selection (pdf)
- Hulbert, S. 2012. Oilseed Variety Development: A Key to Successful Crop Adaptation. Oral presentation in Oilseed Economics, Breeding and Lifecycle Assessment session. Northwest Bioenergy Research Symposium. Seattle, WA. Nov. 13, 2012.
For more information on variety trials contact:
Jesse Ford
jesse.ford@wsu.edu
PDF Accessibility
If you require an alternative format for any of the content provided on this website, please contact us:
Samantha Crow
Program Specialist 2
509-677-3671
samantha.crow@wsu.edu