The U.S. Canola Association (USCA) signed onto letters urging Congressional leaders and the U.S. Department of Agriculture plus Office of Management and Budget to protect crop insurance funding during the development of the FY 2026 budget and appropriations bills. The letter highlights the essential role crop insurance plays as the first line of defense for farmers, particularly in times of natural disasters and economic uncertainty. As many farmers are facing financial challenges, cutting crop insurance would undermine efforts to maintain rural economic stability and food security.

President Donald Trump has delayed implementation of a 25% tariff on all exports from Canada and Mexico until either March 4 or April 2 per Agri-Pulse. President Donald Trump says the tariffs are needed to inspire these countries to curb the flow of illegal migrants and fentanyl into the United States. Portage Online notes the tariffs will have significant economic consequences, particularly for the canola industry. The United States is Canada’s largest market for canola exports, valued at $8.6 billion in 2023, with the majority coming from canola oil and meal. Canola trade benefits both nations, supporting agriculture, manufacturing, processing and transportation. Industry leaders warn that imposing tariffs would disrupt this mutually beneficial relationship, increasing costs and straining economic ties.

On Feb. 13, the Senate confirmed Brooke Leslie Rollins to be the 33rd Secretary of Agriculture by a vote of 72-28. She announced plans to streamline, optimize the workforce and eliminate wasteful spending per Red River Farm Network (RRFN). For example, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has already canceled 78 contracts worth more than $132 million, with more than a thousand additional contracts under review. Among eliminations were media subscriptions and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI)-related programs. “We will end identity politics (and) identity celebrations in DEI here at USDA and across all of the federal government,” Rollins said. Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar said to RRFN that the across-the-board job cuts at the USDA will “delay work on avian flu, wildfires, rural hospitals and loans for farmers and ranchers” – at a time when farmers are facing “the threat of Trump tariffs and no updated farm bill.”

The Senate also confirmed Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to be Secretary of Health & Human Services by a vote of 52-48. It was a party-line vote with the exception of one Republican – Mitch McConnell of Kentucky – who voted against the confirmation. RFK, Jr. contends that seed oils, including canola, are among the most detrimental ingredients in our food supply and their widespread use largely driven by substantial government subsidies per MSN. He claims these oils foster chronic inflammation throughout the body, potentially contributing to a range of health issues.

A recent federal ruling overturned the USDA’s 2020 SECURE rule, which had modernized the regulation of genetically engineered (GE) crops by focusing on their characteristics rather than the methods used to create them. The decision reinstates outdated, process-based regulations, hindering agricultural innovation and increasing costs and delays for biotech crop development. Critics argue that the ruling ignores decades of scientific consensus that GE crops are as safe as conventionally bred ones and risks stalling advancements like gene editing. “In short, it is one of the most wrongheaded and judicially embarrassing agricultural and food policy decisions in decades,” wrote Drew Kershen and Henry I. Miller, MD, for the Genetic Literacy Project. “The use of molecular techniques to create GE crops has now become trapped in the over-regulation of a bygone era.”

Canada’s three provincial canola grower associations have evaluated and selected 11 canola research projects to receive funding under the Canola Agronomic Research Program (CARP) in 2025, noted the Canola Council of Canada Feb.10. This investment includes over $2.3 million from Alberta Canola, SaskOilseeds and Manitoba Canola Growers, as well as over $764,000 from the Western Grains Research Foundation (WGRF) and over $363,000 from Results Driven Agriculture Research, bringing the total investment to over $3.4 million. Driven by grower associations and supported by a robust, collaborative research priority development and proposal review system, CARP enables the funding of projects that are key to advancing canola productivity and mitigating production threats. The funded projects regularly provide new strategies for managing pests and diseases, improving nutrient management and supporting a more resilient canola crop.

U.S. commercial beekeepers are reporting severe bee colony losses, exceeding 50% on average and costing over $139 million, as they prepare to transport honeybees for California almond pollination, noted the Honey Bee Health Coalition to which the USCA belongs. The symptoms resemble Colony Collapse Disorder, with bees disappearing despite ample food stores. A nationwide investigation, led by Project Apis m., USDA-ARS and other organizations, is analyzing potential causes, including viruses, parasites, and pesticide exposure. Samples from affected colonies are being studied across multiple research labs. Findings will be shared through webinars, public updates, and scientific publications, with beekeepers urged to report losses and seek financial assistance.

The International Food Information Council (IFIC) commissioned an online survey about Americans’ perceptions of seed oils. One thousand adults ages 18 years and older completed the survey Nov. 15-19, 2024. Key findings include:

• Three in 14 Americans are at least somewhat familiar with the term “seed oils.”
• Nearly half of Americans believe seed oils are healthy.
• The two most cited sources of information about seed oils are friends and family and social media.
• Most Americans say what they have heard about seed oils is positive.
• Sunflower and sesame oils are the cooking oils that most Americans consider to be a seed oil.
• More than seven in 10 Americans do not actively avoid seed oils.
• Among those who avoid consuming seed oils, more than 6 in 10 believe seed oils are more processed, more genetically modified, and cause more weight gain than other oils.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy (RFK) Jr. is shaking up nutritional science norms by encouraging the use of tallow (rendered beef or other animal fat). He lauded fast food chain Steak ‘n Shake in an X post on Feb. 27 for its “transition away from seed oils” and “leadership in the crusade to Make America Healthy Again,” reported Politico. All Steak ‘n Shake locations will prepare their fries with 100 percent beef tallow by March 1. “Fries will be RFK’d!,” it wrote in an X post. RFK Jr. has long pushed for remaking the U.S. food system, “embracing scientifically dubious theories,” Politico previously noted.

Despite negative claims about seed oils, scientific evidence does not show that they directly cause inflammation or other health issues. While they are often used in ultra-processed foods that contribute to poor health, the oils themselves – especially when consumed in moderation –can be part of a healthful diet. Replacing saturated fats with polyunsaturated fats, such as those found in seed oils, may even have health benefits, including reduced risk of heart disease. “Seed oils aren’t the nutritional villains they’re sometimes made out to be,” reported Livestrong.com. “If your goal is to prevent or reduce inflammation, focus on reducing your intake of ultraprocessed foods instead.” MSN notes 30 types of processed foods that contain seed oils.

CanolaInfo.org, featuring nutrition and culinary information about canola oil from the Canola Council of Canada, got a facelift. Information is up-to-date and easier to find. The website is available in English and Spanish.

The EU Vision for Food and Agriculture was issued on Feb. 19 by the European Commission. It “set the stage for an attractive, competitive, resilient, future-oriented and fair agri-food system for current and future generations of farmers and agri-food operators.” Priorities include fair farmer incomes and better-targeted public support, EU food security and sovereignty, reconciling climate action with food security, and rural development. This roadmap was the outgrowth of a 2024 Strategic Dialogue on the Future of EU Agriculture in consultation with the new European Board for Agriculture and Food.

With the possibility of U.S. President Donald Trump imposing a 25 percent tariff on Canadian goods, the Canola Council of Canada (CCC) is alarmed over potential consequences for farmers, processors, and exporters. The United States is Canada’s top export market for canola, accounting for $8.6 billion in 2023 alone. “The application of these tariffs on Canadian-grown canola and canola products will be felt across the canola value chain,” said Chris Davison, CCC President & CEO. “Tariffs will have devastating impacts on farmers, input providers, canola crushing activities and exports of canola seed, oil and meal.”

The city of Yokosuka in Japan is bright and beautiful with canola fields, accentuated by snow-capped Mt. Fuji in the background, noted The Asahi Shimbun (Japan). Around 100,000 canola flowers are currently in full bloom there until early March.

U.S. canola growth is being driven by increasing demand from the renewable diesel industry, with farmers increasingly turning to the crop for its profitability and agronomic benefits, reported Agri-Pulse Feb. 12. U.S. canola planting has surged, reaching 2.75 million acres in 2024—a 17.7% increase from the previous year—while policy incentives and high oil content make it an attractive feedstock for biofuel production. The Dec. 2022 approval of canola oil as a feedstock for renewable diesel production under the Renewable Fuel Standard has accelerated its use, with U.S. refiners ramping up production capacity. However, challenges such as drought susceptibility, processing infrastructure, and regulatory constraints—like Oregon’s acreage limits and California’s proposed biofuel cap—may impact future growth. Despite these hurdles, the canola industry continues to expand, with new crushing facilities opening and Canada’s production capacity also on the rise.

Despite ongoing misinformation about the health effects of seed oils, demand for canola oil is projected to grow at a compound annual rate of 2.9 percent over the next six years, reaching 32 million tonnes by 2030, reported The Western Producer. The value of this demand will amount to US$56.7 billion by the end of 2030. Canola Council of Canada President Chris Davison noted that while the misinformation has increased lately, it has not impacted global demand.

Canola farmer Bob Schrock and his wife Lori of Kiowa, Kansas, tragically died on Jan. 29 in a mid-air collision between a passenger jet and a military helicopter near Washington, D.C., while traveling to visit their daughter, reported the High Plains Journal. Bob collaborated with Kansas State University for over a decade, hosting variety trials and supporting graduate research. He was a founding member of the Great Plains Canola Association and a trusted advisor to farmers nationwide. “Bob was an innovator and a pioneer of winter canola production in the Great Plains,” said Michael Stamm, canola breeder at Kansas State University, who knew him for nearly 20 years.

Did you know that canola oil can be found in a range of skin, hair and cosmetic products, such as shampoos, conditioners, soaps, lip balms, body lotions and scrubs? That’s because of its moisturizing properties and neutral scent per HelloCanola.ca. But it often shows up on cosmetic labels under different names:

• Canolate – A processed form of canola oil
• Brassica napus seed oil – The scientific name for the canola plant
• Rapeseed oil – A term used outside of North America

The Northern Canola Growers Association (NCGA) and North Dakota State University (NDSU) will co-host via Zoom a “Getting it Right in Canola Production” virtual meeting on Friday, March 14. This annual crop production conference features the latest research-based production information presented by NDSU specialists. Canola growers can register at northerncanola.com.

The NCGA recently held its board meeting in Minot, N.D., where Tim Mickelson of Rolla (president), Michael Brekhus of Kenmare (vice president) and Becky Braaten of Westhope (secretary/treasurer) were all re-elected.

At its recent annual meeting, the Pacific Northwest Canola Association (PNWCA) welcomed two new board members, Mark Greene (Cloverland, WA) and Jason Scharf (Amity, OR), and elected the following board officers:

• President: Braidy Haden, Almira, WA
• Vice-President: Brendan Sherry, Walla Walla, WA
• 2nd Vice-President: Joel Wasem, Cottonwood, ID
• Sec-Treasurer: Matt Smith, BASF
• Industry At-Large: Daniel Stenbakken, Viterra

The PNWCA thanks outgoing, two-term board members Dale Flikkema (Bozeman, MT) and Heidi Kopf (Pullman, WA), who served as president and second vice-president, respectively. There are two openings for Montana directors; anyone interested should e-mail Karen Sowers at pnwcanola@gmail.com.

The Washington State Department of Agriculture co-sponsoring a free workshop on “Developing Solutions for Endangered Species Act Implementation” in Walla Walla on Tuesday, March 4 from 9 am to 4 pm, including lunch plus a Happy Hour afterwards. The goal is to help stakeholders understand what to do, how to address challenges and explore other potential options. It is also an opportunity to provide feedback and input on pesticide label changes. It is in response to the EPA’s rulemaking about implementing mitigations for certain pesticides used in the production of canola production and related rotational crops in the Pacific Northwest. Interested participants should register online.

Director of Communications Angela Dansby is moving on from the USCA after more than 20 years of service as of April 1, 2025. She is grateful to all of the members over the years for their support in advancing the canola sector, including obtaining a qualified health claim for canola oil as well as a major presence on Capitol Hill and in mainstream media. She wishes everyone and the sector continued growth and success.

The spring 2025 board and membership meeting will be in Washington, D.C., Mon.-Wed., March 17-19, followed by a joint reception on Capitol Hill with the National Oilseed Processors Association and American Soybean Association the evening of March 19.

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