The Manitoba Canola Variety Evaluation Trials (CVET) will not take to the field for the 2026 season. The program, an initiative of the Manitoba Canola Growers Association (MCGA), was launched in 2024 with the goal of providing farmers across the province with regional, independent testing of commercial canola varieties. The decision to cancel the program for the upcoming field season was made due to a lack of seed company involvement, which eroded the value that the program could provide back to farmers.
“The decision to cancel the program was not made lightly. Now more than ever, we see the importance of providing support to farmers to ensure they are able to maximize return on investment of seed purchases,” commented Amy Delaquis, Research and Agronomy Manager with MCGA. “This program was a tool that allowed for an understanding of which varieties, across companies, are best suited to tackle the challenges farmers are facing on their farms.”
The importance of the program was widely recognized by farmers across the province, as it represented the last independent canola variety evaluation program in Canada.
“As farmers, we saw real value in the Manitoba CVET program. It was the last place in Canada for truly independent, side-by-side comparisons of canola varieties,” shares Nicolea Dow, Chair of the Research and Agronomy Committee with MCGA. “It’s disappointing that it had to be cancelled due to a lack of broader industry participation, especially when companies that participated in the trials strongly supported it.”
In order for a variety to be evaluated through this independent program and for results to be published publicly, seed companies must agree to their varieties being entered into the trials. Reluctance of seed companies to participate in CVET has been a continuous challenge of the program. MCGA has continuously worked towards getting better representation of canola varieties in the program for the past three years without progress. CVET was designed to provide the best program possible that balanced scientifically sound experimental design and field performance. Oversight and guidance was provided through a technical advisory committee that included canola experts from academia and industry. Thanks to Brett Young, Canterra, Maziex, BASF, and Winfield United for their continued participation and support for the CVET program.
Click here to see more...