FARMERS in the Mid North are reaping the rewards of monola crops, grown in the region for the first time this year.
Many growers took a chance on monola this year after Nuseed promoted the variety throughout the region.
Monola has a high oleic, low linolenic mono-unsaturated oil profile, giving it more stability and increasing its nutritional value, making it ideal for companies in the frying-oil market.
Mid North Nuseed sales manager Mid North Rob Christie said monola was developed to fill the demand for a healthy oil alternative low in saturated and trans fats.
"Companies like KFC, McDonalds, Smiths Crisps, and Arnott's use it in their cooking," he said. "In SA we are marketing it all through Glencore Grain and they've got a market in Japan for this type of oil as well," he said.
Monola goes through Glencore in a closed loop, with prices fluctuating with the canola market.
One of the biggest incentives for many farmers was the $95 a tonne premium on offer, given to promote interest and to compensate for the crop potentially yielding less than other varieties.
That was certainly one of the convincing factors for Darren Crouch, Rhynie who is delighted with its growth and yield.
"I gave it a try because with the premium, it was $95/t better than canola at harvest time," he said.
He had trialled 20 hectares of the early variety, 314TT and was more than happy with the yield.
"Well, I'm not sure whether it was just this year or what it was, but it out yielded the canola by 300 kilograms/hectare," he said.
Given his success, Darren is keen to try monola again next season.
Monola production in Australia is increasing, with crops in the South East, Vic, and southern NSW.
With the only delivery point - at Naracoorte until recently - growing it in the northern regions was unviable.
One of the biggest concerns for farmers when approached about growing monola, was to have a depot in their region. Glencore listened and opened up Tarlee to receive the seed.
Tarnma farmer Greg Hampel and his brother Neil, pulled into their crop last week, but say they would not be reaping if Tarlee was not receiving the grain.
"Oh yeah, if there wasn't a delivery point I wouldn't be growing - that's for sure," he said. "We only put in 40ha, but it seemed to grow all right. We may consider giving it another go, but it's too early to tell yet and to compare with the rest of the canola, so we will see what happens next year," he said.
Down the road at Hamilton, Adrian Laubsch also put in a crop, thinking there was not much to lose.
"I was curious to see if there was an advantage or a little niche market opportunity there to help me value-add, and with that extra premium and close delivery point it's just like growing any sort of canola," he said.
"The variety they gave us looked fairly competitive. Of course this season everything has had a lid on it by the lack of rain in spring, so just how it would grow in a good season and compete - who knows."
* Full report in Stock Journal, November 27, 2014 issue.