Biography

Michael Stamm is an agronomist and canola breeder in the Department of Agronomy. He received his B.S. degree in Agronomy and his M.S. in plant breeding from Kansas State University. He began his career as a breeding associate with Monsanto for two years. Since 2005, he has directed the canola breeding and research program and the National Winter Canola Variety Trial. The overall objective of his program is to improve adaptability and performance of winter canola in the U.S. Great Plains and other regions. Under his leadership, six conventional and five Roundup Ready® winter canola varieties have been released and licensed for commercial production. His program has recently expanded into winter canola hybrid parent line development.

Through participation in the Great Plains Canola Association and the U.S. Canola Association, Mr. Stamm has been instrumental in helping secure crop insurance, a regional market, and other risk management tools for Great Plains canola growers. Through these partnerships, Mr. Stamm and the canola research team coordinate production schools, field tours, and field days throughout the growing season. These activities have resulted in greater planted canola acres in the region.

Mr. Stamm is a member of the American Society of Agronomy, the Crop Science Society of America, the Soil Science Society of America, the National Plant Breeders Association, and Gamma Sigma Delta. He is a US delegate to the Global Council for Innovation in Rapeseed and Canola.

Research

The canola breeding and research program focuses on winter canola variety development, germplasm enhancement, hybrid parent line development, and improved production practices. It relies heavily upon U.S. and global germplasm sources to increase the genetic diversity and climate resiliency of the varieties released. Diverse germplasm is essential for plant breeders to continually improve cultivars. Additionally, farmers desire high-quality genetics as they face production challenges and shifting societal needs, including a rapidly changing bio-energy industry, climate change, and demands for healthier food.

Traits of importance include improved winter survival, sulfonylurea herbicide carryover tolerance to allow planting after wheat, yield potential, oil quality and quantity, glyphosate resistance, lodging tolerance, blackleg disease tolerance, and shatter resistance.

In addition, coordination of the National Winter Canola Variety Trial (NWCVT) is a significant activity of the program. The NWCVT was established to permit testing of commercial varieties and advanced experimental lines and hybrids in a wide range of geographic settings. Information obtained from these trials helps seed developers determine what experimental products should be released as new hybrids and varieties and where those varieties can be profitably marketed. Producers use the information to make informed variety selections.