Canola

Western Australia is the major canola growing state in Australia producing over 50% of the nation’s 4 million tonnes each year.

The majority of WA canola is exported – generating about $1.2 billion for the state’s economy each year, with the Germany, Japan, UAE, Belgium, France and the Netherlands WA’s largest export canola markets in 2021/22.

WA canola is renowned for its high oil content – with the state often achieving higher oil contents than the rest of the nation.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development supports the WA canola industry through agronomic research and development; and pest and disease identification and management.

Articles

  • Brown pasture looper caterpillar

    Caterpillars with a characteristic looping motion that chew seedling broadleaf crops.

  • Cabbage aphid

    Small soft-bodied winged (adults only) or wingless insects that damage canola by direct feeding or as a viral disease carrier.

  • Cutworm moths

    Cutworm caterpillars feed on seedling leaves and stems near ground level with stems often chewed through and ‘cut’ to ground level.

  • Left to right: larva, pupa and newly emerged adult bronzed field beetle

    False wireworms that damage canola crops are the larval stage of the bronzed field beetle.

  • Shiny black insects with light brown legs and rear pincers (Male left, female right)

    A chewing insect introduced from Europe that can damage seedling crops and contaminate grain. Mainly found in the southern wheatbelt.

  •  Caterpillar up to 40 millimetres long usually with a dark streak along its body

    The native budworm caterpillar can cause serious yield loss to canola as pods mature.

  • Brown moth with yellow markings on the wings and orange rings around the body

    The caterpillar of the pasture day moth (Apina callisto) feeds on broadleaf weeds and crops, but is rarely a pest.

  • Vegetable beetle adult

    A widespread beetle is mainly a pest of summer crops, but has seriously damaged young canola in southern districts, especially when there has been a warm start to the growing season.