MARTIN, Tenn. (RFD News) — Fields of bright yellow canola are turning heads across Tennessee as more farmers explore the crop’s potential as part of their operations.
Producers in the state are experimenting with overwintering canola, an oilseed crop that blooms with vibrant yellow flowers in the spring before being harvested for cooking oil and other products. Researchers and Extension specialists say the crop could provide growers with another profitable rotation option while also offering soil health benefits as a winter cover crop.
The name canola was coined by Canadian plant breeders about 60 years ago, combining the words “Canada” and “oil.” Today, canola oil is valued for having the lowest saturated fat content of all common cooking oils.
U.S. farmers currently grow about 2 million acres of canola, and interest in Tennessee is growing as producers evaluate how the crop fits into local production systems.
