ND farmers want more time to plant canola

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Canola farmers in North Dakota and northwest Minnesota are asking federal insurance officials for a few more days in the spring to get their crops in the ground, starting next year.

Farmers see reduced crop insurance coverage if they fail to meet deadlines for planting their crops. In North Dakota, the canola deadlines range from May 10 in the southwest to May 31 in the northeast.

Farmers say pushing back the deadline by five days in each region would give them more time during wet springs. And Barry Coleman with the Northern Canola Growers Association says research also is showing that canola planted later into warmer soils has better yields.

Doug Hagel, the regional director of the federal Risk Management Agency, says it is willing to consider the request. He says RMA is waiting for the canola group to provide research data supporting its request.

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