CANOLA DISEASE AND INSECT MANAGEMENT
               
          Jeanne Mihail, Department of Plant Pathology
                         (573) 882-1471
       Wayne Bailey, State Extension Entomology Specialist
                         (573) 882-2838
                 University of Missouri-Columbia

     Canola is an alternative crop which offers the potential of
diversifying the cropping systems of a some regions of Missouri,
both economnically and ecologically. Although it is grown worldwide
and traded on the international oilseed market, canola has been
grown on limited acreage in Missouri. It can be produced
successfully in Missouri, and marketing opportunities are
increasing.
     The grain and whole canola plant can be fed to livestock.
However, the most promising potential of this special type of
rapeseed is for processing into erucic acid. Erucic acid is an
undesirable substance in vegetable oil, from a health standpoint.
Varieties of canola which are used for vegetable oils have been
developed to be low in erucic acid. However, since erucic acid is
a valuable substance for certain industries, "industrial rapeseed"
varieties have been developed with high levels of erucic acid.
     Canola oil competes in a large world market for vegetable oils
against corn oil, soybean oil and other oils.  Canola oil's
advantage - it has the lowest level of saturated fats of any major
vegetable oil.
     Winter canola will grow well in Missouri, and contracts are
available through several companies. However, winter crop survival
is the main production problem for Missouri.
     The authors wish to thank Marion Gentry for reviewing the
canola disease material.

INSECT PESTS
     There are no insecticides currently labeled for control of
canola insects in Missouri.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
     More information can be found in Diseases of Field Crops in
Canada, edited by Marten, Seamen and Atkinson, published by
Canadian Phytopathological Society.  

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
     The authors thank Rob Myers for his contribution to the
original material for this section.