rapeseed crops in China

Is Canadian canola a victim of China’s desire to be more food self-sufficient?

A recently published paper says the disruption in canola trade with China has more to do with its push for food self-sufficiency than politics. The Canadian canola industry disagrees

Canada’s canola industry and the federal government were surprised when China abruptly stopped buying canola from two Canadian exporters in March. But a new report prepared for the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute (CAPI) suggests they shouldn’t have been. China has, for socio-economic and political reasons, had been planning to reduce imports of canola from Canada

“Demand is still very strong in that country for high quality canola, which we have lots of. I am very hopeful that once they are ready to start buying again we’ll be there to sell it to them.” – Rick White

Past China canola dispute resolved, this one will be too: Innes

Canada has resolved past disputes over canola exports to China and Canada’s canola industry expects the current one will be too

Canada can’t count on past rates of growth in canola exports to China once tensions between the two countries are resolved, according to a recently published paper. The paper, distributed by the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute (CAPI), concludes China is on the road to more food self-sufficiency and food import diversity. However the canola industry


Blooming rapeseed field at sunset

Canadian canola hits great wall of China

China won’t discuss the situation with Canadian officials

Despite the ongoing efforts of Canada’s canola industry and the federal and provincial governments, China still is not importing Canadian canola seed, or even willing to discuss its de facto boycott that began in March. “It appears there is no immediate solution to this issue,” Canola Council of Canada president Jim Everson told a webinar

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for the first time acknowledged he believes China’s boycott of Canadian canola seed is linked to China’s trade dispute with the United States, including Chinese tech giant Huawei.

Trudeau acknowledges U.S.-China dispute linked to canola

The study into China’s concerns about dockage and blackleg is done but hasn’t been shared with China yet

The Canadian government has acknowledged for the first time publicly what most suspected: canola to China is the symptom, not the illness. China’s decision not to buy Canadian canola seed since March is linked to Canada’s arrest late last year of Meng Wanzhou, vice-president of Chinese technology firm Huawei, at the United States’ request. “We

The political tensions between China and Canada are increasing day by day, and Canadian canola producers want the federal government to make their move.

Restoring canola exports to China ‘chess, not checkers’

Canadian captives complicate things, nevertheless, some farmers have lost patience and confidence in Ottawa

Some Canadian farmers, no closer to knowing when they’ll regain access to their biggest canola customer, are going from feelings of uncertainty and anxiety to anger and frustration. “We demand action,” Ian Steppler, who farms near Deerwood, Man., wrote on Facebook last week. The federal government and grain industry are committed to restoring Canadian canola


Not time to retaliate on canola — yet

Not time to retaliate on canola — yet

Some in the industry say it’s time to go political, but others say it’s too soon

Canada should retaliate against China’s boycott of Canadian canola seed, say several canola industry officials. That’s an option, but also a last resort, says the Canola Council of Canada (CCC). “I would say no issue is off the table in terms of various approaches that we can take as a country to deal with the

The halt on canola shipments to China is hitting farmers first and hardest, according to KAP.

KAP wants government action on canola spat

While Chinese and Canadian officials are talking, so far China hasn’t agreed to a face-to-face meeting

Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP) is frustrated the federal government hasn’t done more to restore Canadian canola exports to China a month after the current trade dispute began. At press time Monday the Chinese had not replied to Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau’s request to send a Canadian delegation to China led by the Canadian Food Inspection

Farmers sticking with canola-seeding plans

Farmers sticking with canola-seeding plans

If you’re thinking of changing, contact your seed retailer ASAP

So far it looks like western farmers are sticking to their rotations and not jumping out of canola this spring, despite losing their top market, China. “Farmers are locked and loaded and sticking to it,” Canadian Canola Growers Association CEO Rick White said in an interview April 4. “Yes, some have been pushing their rotations.


Rick White, CEO of the Canadian Canola Growers Association says doubling the maximum cash advance to $800,000 or even $1 million, plus allowing farmers to repay 2018 canola cash advances with cash will help canola growers with cash flow following the loss of the Chinese canola market.

Changes to cash advances can help canola farmers’ cash flow: White

The Saskatchewan government says the entire loan should be interest free

One way to help canola farmers suffering lower prices following the loss of the Chinese market is enhancing the cash advance program, says Canadian Canola Growers Association (CCGA) CEO Rick White. “We have a tool,” White, whose organization administers 98 per cent of Western Canada’s cash advances, said in an interview April 4. “That’s what

Market access and boosting canola production remain top priorities, says the Canola Council of Canada

Canola council’s new priorities aim to be more efficient, effective

Changes are coming to promotion, agronomy and funding

The Canola Council of Canada has slashed its budget by 40 per cent for the upcoming year. The organization is revamping its priorities to be more effective and efficient in growing Canadian canola markets and production. The changes, which include a shift in canola promotion, the council’s role in agronomy and funding, received unanimous support