Hybrid mustard matches canola yield, but disease concerns remain

Feb 08, 2023

Strong mustard prices and available hybrid varieties have prompted a few farmers from outside the crop’s traditional growing regions to consider growing the oilseed.

Cory Jacobs, crops specialist for the Province of Saskatchewan, said elevated mustard prices make the new hybrid varieties worth trying, even in northern areas of the province.

“The main thing if you’re looking to grow mustard is to watch out for canola contamination,” Jacobs said.

“It’s a different management style compared to canola. So, if they’re willing to try something, I’d say give it a try. Prices are strong now. In the future I don’t know, but I think we’re showing that we can limit the yield gap between canola (and) mustard.”

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Video: From Conventional to Regenerative: Will Groeneveld’s Journey Back to the Land

"You realize you've got a pretty finite number of years to do this. If you ever want to try something new, you better do it."

That mindset helped Will Groeneveld take a bold turn on his Alberta grain farm. A lifelong farmer, Will had never heard of regenerative agriculture until 2018, when he attended a seminar by Kevin Elmy that shifted his worldview. What began as curiosity quickly turned into a deep exploration of how biology—not just chemistry—shapes the health of our soils, crops and ecosystems.

In this video, Will candidly reflects on his family’s farming history, how the operation evolved from a traditional mixed farm to grain-only, and how the desire to improve the land pushed him to invite livestock back into the rotation—without owning a single cow.

Today, through creative partnerships and a commitment to the five principles of regenerative agriculture, Will is reintroducing diversity, building soil health and extending living roots in the ground for as much of the year as possible. Whether it’s through intercropping, zero tillage (which he’s practiced since the 1980s) or managing forage for visiting cattle, Will’s approach is a testament to continuous learning and a willingness to challenge old norms.

Will is a participant in the Regenerative Agriculture Lab (RAL), a social innovation process bringing together producers, researchers, retailers and others to co-create a resilient regenerative agriculture system in Alberta. His story highlights both the potential and humility required to farm with nature, not against it.