Commercial production of canola in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul (MS) began in 1994 promoted by Cooperativa Agroindustrial - COCAMAR , in the region of Aral Moreira, was mantained up to the year 2000, and reached a peak of 1500 ha in the year 1998. In the following years canola production continued in up to 1000 ha annually at municipalities near the border with Paraguay. Bunge Alimentos S.A. started in 2006 a program to develop commercial production of canola in MS, in the municipalities of Maracaju and Sidrolândia with the technical support of the first author and technical assistance to farmers by the second author.

It has been observed in the state of MS as in other states of the “Centro-Oeste” region of Brazil growing interest of farmers and companies to increase grain production as a second crop in the year, called “safrinha”, following soybean or maize production. However, in certain years low rainfall during “safrinha”, and frost in some areas, are important limiting factors, especially if seeding is not done in the recommended period, from mid February to mid March.

Aiming at generating information to support the choice of canola genotypes more adapted and with more grain yield potential under the environmental conditions of this region a genotype trial and replicated demonstration plots were established. Information about commercial fields were also collected and analysed.