Prepared by Dr. Rob Myers, Jefferson Institute. This is a list of oilseeds that are either currently grown, are recommended alternate crops, are experimental crops, or are not recommended for Missouri.
Existing Crops
Recommended New, Alternate or Underutilized Crops
Experimental New Or Alternate Crops
Not Recommended
| Existing Crops | Crop Information Links | ||
| Soybeans | The number one crop in Missouri, grown on more than twice as much acreage (5 million acres) as any other crop. About 10% of the soybean crop is grown as a double crop after wheat, primarily in the southeast portion of Missouri. |
Missouri publications extension |
NewCROP |
| Recommended New, Alternate or Underutilized Crops | |||
| Sunflowers | Sunflowers are grown up to a few thousand acres in Missouri each year in Missouri, mainly for the birdseed market. Sunflowers are well adapted to most Missouri soils, can be planted late enough for double cropping in the south half of the state, and should be planted on more acres. | Missouri | NewCROP |
| Winter canola | Winter canola is well adapted to Delta conditions in the southeast part of Missouri, but winter kill remains a concern for the rest of the state. New varieties make production less risky, but careful consideration of transportation to market costs must be done to determine profitability. | Missouri | NewCROP |
| Flax | Flax used to be grown across Missouri prior to WWII. Grown alone as an early spring planted crop, flax is not economically competitive with traditional crops, but could be double cropped with buckwheat in the southern 2/3 of the state, making a positive net return more feasible. | Missouri | NewCROP |
| Experimental New Or Alternate Crops | |||
| Sesame | Mostly imported, and grown on several thousand acres in Texas and other southern states. Sesame has shown good potential in Missouri trials, and produces yields that are economically competitive with traditional crops. Seedling establishment is challenging; soil moisture has to be just right. | Missouri | NewCROP |
| Spring canola | In most years, spring canola will not yield as high as winter canola in Missouri, since it flowers a few weeks later when conditions are getting hotter. It can be an alternative when fall-planted canola has winter killed, or for possible double cropping with buckwheat. | Missouri | NewCROP |
| Crambe | Like spring canola, flax, and oats, crambe is a cool season crop that needs to be planted in early spring. Yields are variable under Missouri conditions, but the crop's valuable industrial uses give it some potential value. Could be double cropped with buckwheat. | Missouri | NewCROP |
| Niger (noog) | This oilseed is imported from India and Africa for the birdseed marketplace. No U.S. cultivars are currently available, but the sizable birdseed market for this crop could potentially make it viable in Missouri. | Missouri | NewCROP |
| Vernonia | This wild plant is being domesticated by plant breeders, and has produced a modest seed yield in Missouri test plots. Valuable industrial uses of the oil may give the crop potential following years of additional research and development. | Missouri | NewCROP |
| Meadowfoam | This high value oilseed may be adapted to southern areas of Missouri as a fall-planted crop, but field testing has not been conducted. | Missouri | NewCROP |
| Not recommended | |||
| Safflower | This crop is adapted to drier, less humid areas of the West, and seems to get diseases and lack vigor in Missouri. Seed yields in Missouri test plots have been low. | Missouri | NewCROP |
The oilseeds listing was compiled and written by Dr. Rob Myers, Jefferson Institute. Questions related to these crops should be addressed to Dr. Rob Myers 601 W. Nifong Blvd., Ste. 5A Columbia, MO 65203
Ph: 573-449-3518
Email:
rmyers@tranquility.net