Canola Could Replace Winter Wheat, Boost No-Till Profits

Exactrix Systems head says winter canola could provide higher incomes and reduce soil erosion for no-tillers in the western U.S.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 5:35am

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A photorealistic studio still life featuring a polished, geometric canola seed pod and a bundle of wheat stalks arranged elegantly on a clean, monochromatic background, conceptually representing the tradeoffs between profitability and environmental impact in crop selection.A shift from winter wheat to no-till winter canola could boost farmer profits while dramatically reducing soil erosion in the western U.S.Spokane Today

Guy Swanson, the head of Exactrix Systems in Spokane, Washington, believes that winter canola could replace a significant portion of the winter wheat grown in the western United States. Swanson says a properly fertilized winter canola crop could gross around $290 per acre with a cash outlay of only $90-$120, and there is growing demand for the crop as U.S. food and fuel processors buy over $700 million of Canadian-grown canola oil, seed, and meal each year. Replacing 2 million acres of U.S. winter wheat with no-tilled winter canola could also dramatically reduce soil erosion, which Swanson says accounts for 90% of the soil loss in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.

Why it matters

With low grain prices and declining wheat acreage, winter canola could provide no-tillers in the western U.S. with higher incomes and bonus opportunities for producing a high-quality product. It could also significantly reduce soil erosion, which is a major environmental concern in the region.

The details

Swanson says a properly fertilized winter canola crop should gross around $290 per acre with a cash outlay of only $90-$120. In Canada, canola is grown on 16 million acres, while the U.S. acreage stands at only 1.7 million acres. Swanson believes replacing 2 million acres of U.S. winter wheat with no-tilled winter canola could trim soil losses by at least 10 times the amount that occurs with growing winter wheat, as winter wheat is responsible for 90% of the soil erosion in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.

  • Canola production continues to increase in the western Canada prairies.
  • The U.S. currently grows only 1.7 million acres of canola.

The players

Guy Swanson

The head of Exactrix Systems in Spokane, Washington, who believes winter canola could replace a significant portion of the winter wheat grown in the western United States.

Exactrix Systems

A company based in Spokane, Washington, that is led by Guy Swanson and promotes the use of winter canola as a replacement for winter wheat.

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What they’re saying

“When properly implemented, no-tilling Roundup Ready winter canola drops soil erosion levels well below the expectations of any other cropping system.”

— Guy Swanson, Head of Exactrix Systems

The takeaway

Replacing winter wheat with winter canola could provide no-till farmers in the western U.S. with higher profits and significantly reduce soil erosion, which is a major environmental concern in the region. The potential benefits of winter canola make it an attractive alternative crop for no-tillers to consider.