The introduction of winter canola into the Great Plains will increase crop diversity and may increase profitability of existing cropping systems. In many parts of the region a major limitation of winter canola is winter survival. The objective of this research was to quantify the effect of nitrogen and phosphorus on winter canola survival and crop yield. Two locations in Missouri and one location in Texas were seeded to ‘Wichita’ winter canola in the 2001‐2002 and 2002‐2003 growing seasons. Fall N followed by spring N and fall P fertility treatments were applied in a randomized complete block factorial design. In Missouri, percent winter survival, bloom date, crop height, percent lodging, harvest maturity date, and grain yield response to N and P treatments varied among locations and years. Percent winter survival was greatest at Columbia, at 86 and 80% in 2002 and 2003, respectively. In contrast, grain yield was greatest at Novelty at 2100 and 2400 lb/acre in 2002 and 2003, respectively. In Texas, winter survival was greater than 85% in both years. Grain yield was 2900 and 990 lb/acre in 2002 and 2003, respectively. Shattering due to delayed harvest primarily caused decreased grain yield in 2003. Grain yield was greater at 50 lbs of fall N than when no fall N was applied. Fall P and spring N treatments had no influence on winter survival or crop yield. Our results suggest that winter canola can be successfully grown in the Great Plains and that proper management of N and P may increase winter survival and grain yield.