THE DEMAND FOR CANOLA OIL IN THE UNITED STATES IS ALMOST THREE TIMES LARGER THAN THE CURRENT NATIONAL SUPPLY. THE NORTH CENTRAL REGION OF THEUS CONTRIBUTES MORE THAN 83% OF THE US TOTAL CANOLA PRODUCTION. WHILE THIS REPRESENTS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR FARMERS IN THE REGION, CANOLA PRODUCERS FACE INCREASED PRODUCTION COSTS AND COMPETITION FROM CROPS WITH LOWERINPUT DEMANDS. STRENGTHENING THE PROFITABILTY OF CANOLA PRODUCTION WILL GO LONG WAYS TO ENSURE FARMERS ARE ABLE TO CLOSE THE SUPPLY/DEMAND GAP AND SECURE A STEADY SOURCE OF INCOME. THIS PROJECT INTENDS TO CONTRIBUTE TO THIS SCENARIO BY DEVELOPING/IDENTIFYINGGERMPLASM WITH IMPROVED CAPABILITY TO PRODUCE OIL, RESIST THEATTACK OF DISEASES LIKE CLUBROOT, AND THRIVE IN DRYLANDS WITH SALINITY ISSUES; DEVELOPING MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES THAT REDUCE INPUT COSTS, E.G. EVALUATING DESICCANTS THATFACILITATE DIRECT HARVEST OF WIDE-ROW CANOLA (WHICH WOULD REQUIRE FEWER SEEDS PER ACRE), OPTIMIZINGFERTILIZER AND HERBICIDE USE, AND PROVIDING TIMELY INFORMATION ON THE STATUS OF CLUBROOT PREVALENCE AND MANAGEMENT PRACTICES THATREDUCE ITS RATE OF SPREAD ANDIMPACT ON CANOLA PRODUCTION IN THE REGION; AND MAKING A CONCERTED EFFORT TO DISSEMINATE THE INFORMATION GENERATED THROUGH THIS PROJECT TO FARMERS. THE LATTER WOULD BE ACHIEVED BY COMBINING ACTIVITIES OF THE AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SERVICES OF THE THREE STATES INVOLVED IN THIS PROJECT, E.G. NORTH DAKOTA, SOUTH DAKOTA, AND MINNESOTA, AND OF THE PARTICIPATING RESEARCHERS. SOME OF THE ACTIVITIES TO BE ORGANIZED FOR FARMERS/PRODUCERS AND INDUSTRY ASSOCIATES INCLUDE FIELD AND DEMONSTRATION DAYS,EDUCATION MEETINGS, EXTENSION BULLETINS, PRESS ARTICLES, AND RESEARCH CONFERENCES. MANUSCRIPTS TO BE PUBLISHED IN REFEREED JOURNALS AND PRESENTATIONS AT PROFESSIONAL MEETINGS WILL BE PREPARED TO INFORM THE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY AT LARGE. TO FULLY ACHIEVE THE GOALS OF THIS PROJECT A MINIMUM OF THREE YEARS WILL BE REQUIRED; HOWEVER, ONLY ACTIVITIES OF THE FIRST YEAR ARE PRESENTED HERE.