With high input costs and volatile markets, row crop producers are turning to canola as a winter alternative to wheat, offering new revenue opportunities and international market access
With high input costs and volatile crop markets affecting profitability, many Tennessee row crop producers are looking to diversify their operations in the coming years. Canola, a cool-season crop, could serve as an alternative to winter wheat and offer access to new international markets and revenue opportunities.
“Statewide canola acreage increased from 4,000 acres in 2025 to 6,000 to 8,000 acres in 2026,” said Mitchell Richmond, tobacco, hemp and specialty crop specialist with University of Tennessee Extension. “A key reason is how well it fits into existing crop rotations, in which we grow soybeans or corn in the summer and either wheat or canola during the winter. Additionally, market prices for canola have been very favorable in recent years.”
The Canola Opportunity
More than 2.5 million acres of canola are grown in the U.S. annually. In Tennessee, it is planted from mid-September through mid-October, allowing the crop to establish its root system before colder temperatures arrive. Growth resumes in early spring, with yellow flowers appearing in April before harvest in late May and early June. The collected seed is approximately 40% oil and is used in cooking products, animal feed, renewable fuels and more.
A Farmer’s Perspective
For Jamison Turner, a fifth-generation farmer in western Tennessee, canola has become an important addition to his row crop operation in Weakley and Obion counties.
“We grow about 4,500 acres of corn and soybeans in the summer, and about 500 acres of canola in the winter,” Turner said. “Warm-season crops are not bringing in as much revenue, but canola allows more flexibility in our production system that we can adjust depending on markets. Plus, it serves as a cover crop to protect our soil from erosion.”
Challenges and Management
With statewide canola acres expected to continue increasing, researchers with the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture are evaluating management solutions for diseases and pests that could impact production.
“This past season, we saw aphid infestations as well as white mold,” said Heather Kelly, Extension specialist and plant pathology researcher. “There are already established management strategies across the U.S., but we want to ensure they are effective in Tennessee.”
Kelly said producers should scout carefully for both pests throughout the growing season. Aphids are commonly found near blooms or under leaves near the base of the plant, along with the insect’s honeydew. White mold appears as a white, cotton-like growth at the base of the plant stem. Infected stems are often hollow and can be easily identified compared to healthy crops.
Rotation Recommendations
Since both aphids and white mold can reduce yield, UTIA experts recommend rotating canola with winter wheat to minimize infestations and disease pressure.
For more information on canola production in Tennessee, including how to incorporate the crop into your production system, contact your local county Extension office. A tour on canola production was held July 23 at the 34th Milan No-Till Field Day at the AgResearch and Education Center at Milan.
