World’s first Group 2 herbicide resistant camelina seed launches

New camelina variety offers high yields for Saskatchewan farmers 

SASKATOON (Sept. 22, 2021) – After over a decade of development in collaboration with  Saskatchewan’s leading oilseed researchers, Smart Earth Camelina (SEC) announces the world's first and  only Group 2 herbicide resistant camelina variety. NewGold, the new camelina seed variety from SEC, is now available to growers and offers improved yield potential and larger seed size. 

SEC has been contracting Saskatchewan growers to produce camelina since 2013. Throughout these  production seasons, SEC and their production team have battled with broadleaf weeds and canola  volunteers. The launch of NewGold camelina is what producers have been waiting for: an in-crop  broadleaf herbicide weed control option. 

The new SEC camelina variety, SES1154HR branded NewGold, provides farmers in the Canadian prairies  with an alternative cropping option that is disease resistant, drought-tolerant and destined for in demand oilseed markets. As a specialty crop, camelina also tends to have relatively low input costs and  competitive returns. 

Camelina is an oilseed belonging to the mustard family. With very good frost tolerance at the seedling  stage and good performance on light to medium textured soils, camelina is an attractive alternative  oilseed crop for western Canadian farmers. Camelina produces oil similar in properties to flax but  growers are not burdened with difficult stubble management. There is strong demand for camelina oil  from the equine, canine and aquaculture industries, as the oil is high in nutritionally important Omega  fatty acids. 

SEC’s latest NewGold variety is thifensulfuron-methyl resistant with an increased seed size of 40 per  cent. With an additional 14 per cent yield advantage over the MIDAS™ variety, growers can expect 30 to  40 bushels per acre on fallow and 25 to 30 bushels per acre on stubble on average. 

Because NewGold camelina is resistant to flea beetles, blackleg and blackspot, farmers will save on input  costs as seed treatments with insecticide and fungicides and late-season insecticide sprays are not  necessary. NewGold also has excellent resistance to downy mildew and good resistance to sclerotinia. It  can be straight cut at harvest and pod shattering is a nonissue. Growers are also finding that camelina is  an effective alternative oilseed crop for those wanting to remove volunteer canola from their fields but  to keep it in their crop production rotation. 

“The latest development out of our breeding program—our NewGold variety—will give Saskatchewan  growers an even better opportunity to achieve high yields with lower inputs,” says Jack Grushcow,  president and CEO of Smart Earth Camelina. “Camelina, and specifically the NewGold variety, is a great fit for growers with marginal lands who would like to take advantage of a shorter growing season. We  know this year has been tough on many. Farmers looking to lower their input costs with a drought  tolerant oilseed should give NewGold camelina a try.” 

NewGold camelina is grown exclusively under contract. Growers can book their 2022 camelina contract  now by filling out the form here or calling Smart Earth’s crop production specialist, Carlene Sarvas, at  306-220-2737. 

To learn more about Smart Earth Camelina, click here.  

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About Smart Earth Camelina 

Smart Earth Camelina Corp. is dedicated to developing the best camelina varieties available while  working together with growers to provide excellent production practices. Smart Earth Camelina is a  leading global camelina enterprise and maintains a continuous plant-breeding program that is  unmatched in scale and scope. It’s plant-breeding activities provide a significant pipeline of trait  development to ensure maximum yield and profitability for camelina growers for now and years to  come.  

For further information, contact: 

Jack Grushcow, President and CEO 
Smart Earth Camelina Corp. 
604-224-5700 
Emma Greaves
AdFarm PR 
emma.greaves@adfarm.com 
403-410-7653

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