The California Air Resources Board released a proposal for its low carbon fuel standard Aug. 12 that includes a 20 percent cap on biofuels made from canola and soybean oils. Feedstocks would be required to meet certain sustainability requirements and be subject to a certification process as well. “Limiting the use of renewable, plant-based biofuels made from crops grown on existing cropland in North America will result in greater reliance on foreign feedstocks of less certain origin and inhibit the ability to reach emission reduction goals,” stated the USCA in an Aug. 19 news release. “Canola and other crop-based biofuels are already subject to Induced Land Use Change and indirect emissions analysis, making a cap redundant and unnecessary,” added Tim Mickelson, USCA president and N.D. canola grower. USCA Executive Director Tom Hance and Northern Canola Growers Association Executive Director Barry Coleman spoke to Red River Farm Network about the situation and Biobased Diesel Daily and Transport Topics shared the USCA’s views. On Aug. 27, the USCA submitted comments to CARB.

After 2.5 years of deliberation, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued on Aug. 20 its final Herbicide Strategy, which intends to create a consistent, reasonable, transparent and understandable approach to assessing the potential impacts of herbicides on 900 endangered species and identifying mitigations. It describes whether, how much and where mitigations may be needed to protect federally listed species from agricultural uses of herbicides. The EPA would apply the strategy when issuing new active ingredient registrations or review decisions under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act. The strategy introduces a point system for managing pesticide run-off and erosion, which is tailored to regional conditions. The U.S. Canola Association (USCA) submitted comments on the draft Herbicide Strategy on Oct. 20, 2023.

The EPA released its draft Insecticide Strategy on Aug. 9 with a 60-day comment period ending Sept. 23. It aims to help bring the agency’s pesticide program into compliance with the Endangered Species Act and establish mitigations to reduce potential risks (e.g., run-off and spray drift) that insecticides may pose to listed species and their critical habitats. After initial review, this lengthy (700+ pages), complex proposal could fundamentally alter the way rural workers access and use pesticides. To have time to consider all potential implications and draft meaningful comments, 240 agricultural groups, including the USCA, called for a 30-day extension to the comment period in an Aug. 9 letter. The EPA denied this request.

The USCA signed an Aug. 19 letter with other national agricultural groups to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to request “action to ensure railroad operations continue before a lockout or strike occurs to prevent serious damage to the Canadian and U.S. economies.” The U.S. Department of Agriculture Grain Transportation Report predicted a Canadian rail strike in absence of an agreement between the Canadian National Railway (CN) and Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) and rail labor unions. In early May and late June, the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference voted to authorize strikes at CN and CPKC, which came to fruition on Aug. 22, forcing Canadian government intervention Aug. 23.

The USDA announced changes to the Farm Service Agency’s farm loan programs to “increase financial freedom, resilience and profitability for agricultural producers.” Effective Sept. 25, 2024, these improvements – part of the Enhancing Program Access and Delivery for Farm Loans rule – will provide important financing options for producers to cover operating expenses and purchase land and equipment.

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released on Aug. 2 a score for the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024 (H.R. 8467), which was passed by the House Agriculture Committee. Enacting the bill would increase total spending from the CBO’s May 2023 baseline for agriculture and nutrition programs an estimated $1,250 billion over the 2025-33 period. House Agriculture Committee Chair Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA) was dissatisfied with the score because it did not provide the savings he believes should come from suspending Section 5 of the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) Charter Act. The CBO noted that the House Republican-written bill would suspend Section 5, “which gives the Secretary of Agriculture broad authority to spend CCC funds to support agricultural prices and to take other steps that affect the consumption or supply of agricultural commodities.”

North Dakota State University Langdon Research Extension Center Director Randy Mehloff told Red River Farm Network that this year’s canola crop looks good though August heat may be a problem. “The rule of thumb here is the longer your canola flowers the better your chance for a higher yields … the hot weather might have shut down the flowering a little earlier than we thought,” he said.

Northern Canola Growers Association (NCGA) Executive Director Barry Coleman reported on Red River Farm Network that more than $400,000 in canola research grants were approved in North Dakota this year. They will address control of clubroot, blackleg and verticillium stripe (photo: Canola Council of Canada) as well as the benefits of canola meal in cattle feed among other topics. 

The NCGA submitted comments on Aug. 20 in support of dicamba herbicide on dicamba-tolerant soybeans in order to ensure continued use of Liberty (glufosinate) in canola. “If soybean growers can no longer use dicamba, they will likely use more Liberty, which will increase selection pressure,” noted Coleman. The NCGA is currently working with North Dakota State University to register a product called “Certitude” to head off future pest resistance problems, but it will take years for approval.

Are you organizing an international conference on canola research in 2025? Or would you like to work with researchers in another country to help your research project? If so, consider applying for funding from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development Co-operative Research Program. Applications are now being accepted until Sept. 10.

PREVENTION magazine dispelled myths about canola oil, with dietitians ascertaining its healthy fat profile, high heat tolerance, versatility and affordability. They dismissed so-called risks related to processing and genetically modified seed. “Canola oil is perfectly safe to consume and even reduces LDL cholesterol,” said Courtney Pelitera, M.S., R.D. “It is important to note that it is also a much more affordable option in an economy where we might be looking to cut costs anywhere we can.” Melissa Prest, D.C.N., R.D.N., spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and member of the Prevention Medical Review Board, added: “Canola oil is a good option for cooking since it has a high smoke point … It’s also shelf-stable and has a milder flavor than other plant oils … Canola oil is one heart-healthy fat option people can use for high-heat cooking and on the table.” (Photo: CanolaInfo)

As of 00:01 ET on Aug. 22, a disruption in rail service went into effect between Canada’s Class I railways (CN & CPKC) and the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference union. Due to this “unprecedented work stoppage,” service ground to a halt, “impacting all segments of the canola value chain,” noted the Canola Council of Canada, Canadian Oilseed Processors Association and Canadian Canola Growers Association in a joint news release. They called upon Canada’s Minister of Labour to invoke section 107 of the Canada Labour Code in order to bring swift resolution as halted exports of canola seed and processing were estimated at about $11 million and $20.5 million per day, respectively. The minister responded on Aug. 23, mandating binding arbitration, a resumption of rail service and an extension of current agreements until new ones are finalized. The major stakeholder organizations said that in spite of this positive action, the situation was avoidable: “Moving forward, the government and political parties of all stripes must find a long-term solution to ensure this type of event does not happen again.”

American biofuel producers imported Canadian canola oil at record pace early this year and the flow continues for now, reported Grainews.ca. “Much depends on U.S. policy not only with regards to renewable fuels but also trade, both of which have potential to squeeze Canadian producers,” wrote Justin Shepherd, senior economist with Farm Credit Canada. American biofuel tax structures and credits in 2025 may harm Canadian biofuel exports as only U.S. production of biodiesel or renewable diesel will be eligible. “For now, however, canola oil producers are taking advantage of the increased demand to fill U.S. capacity and, as a result, we can expect the majority of oil to flow south,” he added.

U.S. Presidential candidate Donald Trump’s trade threats are a concern for Canadian canola as it’s unclear if his broad 10 percent tariff plan would apply to the crop, reported the Western Producer. Given that the U.S. imports the majority of the canola it needs for food and industrial uses from Canada, a tariff would boost costs to American companies and consumers.

Canola Week 2024 will be Dec. 3-5 at the Holiday Inn Saskatoon Downtown. It will open with a recap of the growing season and state of the industry, followed by nutrient management priorities to optimize canola production and canola innovations. Canola Week merges three meetings into one.

Field to Market: The Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture^® announced that Carrie Vollmer-Sanders became its new president as of Aug. 26. She was formerly the sustainability director of U.S. Farmers & Ranchers in Action. She will “translate the alliance’s strategic priorities into lasting impact by uniting the value chain behind a shared vision of advancing sustainable food, feed, fiber, and fuel production and catalyzing collective action” per Field to Market.

Field to Market, a member organization to which the USCA belongs, will host its 2024 Sustainable Agriculture Summit Nov. 20-21 in Minneapolis. Registration is now open. The summit, entitled “A Decade of Progress and a Vision for the Future,” will celebrate 10 years of collaboration on sustainable agriculture. Field to Market’s own conference will precede the summit Nov.18-19 at the same location. Any USCA members interested in representing the organization at the Field to Market summit, please contact Tom Hance.

The autumn USCA board meeting will be in San Diego, Calif., Mon.-Wed., Nov. 11-13. The spring 2025 board and membership meeting will be in Washington, D.C., Mon.-Wed., March 17-19.

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