Richardson International, which spent $140 million to expand its port terminal in North Vancouver in 2016, had its registration to ship canola to China cancelled on March 1 — a move that sent shock waves through the entire canola sector.

Growers fear a China crisis over canola

Farmers are worried but quiet diplomacy is the best option, says Alberta Canola official

Reading Time: 3 minutes Wait and hope. And test. That’s about all Alberta canola growers can do as what appears to be political gamesmanship by China plays out. News that Canada’s biggest buyer of the oilseed had cancelled Richardson International’s registration to ship canola prompted worried producers to call the Alberta Canola Producers Commission. “At first it was kind of […] Read more



Canola Council of Canada president Jim Everson says China’s block on Canadian canola has now expanded beyond just shipments from Richardson International. (Co-operator file photo by Allan Dawson)

China stops buying Canadian canola

China has stopped buying any Canadian canola, says Canola Council of Canada president Jim Everson. “The Chinese are unwilling to purchase Canadian canola (from any company) at this time,” he said Thursday. “Trade that was executed earlier is continuing. New sales are what appears to be affected.” Earlier this month China blocked canola imports from […] Read more

Clubroot galls are the sure sign the disease is present, but dead patches in the field should also be easy to spot at swathing time. 

Wind seems to be the clubroot culprit in Manitoba

Researcher urges producers to watch for early infestations and get on them quickly

Reading Time: 3 minutes It looks like clubroot is moving a bit differently on the east side of the Prairies. In Alberta, clubroot is showing up a lot at field entrances (in 90 per cent of the infected fields, according to one study), which suggests equipment is the main culprit in its spread. It’s a similar pattern in Saskatchewan […] Read more


ICE May 2019 canola with Bollinger (20,2) bands, a gauge of market volatility. (Barchart)

ICE weekly outlook: Little to sustain canola bids in bear market

MarketsFarm — Although there will be some bounces in ICE canola futures, there is very little currently to sustain any increases in bids, according to Errol Anderson of ProMarket Communications. While the market has stabilized for the time being, it’s technically oversold, Anderson said. The market can rebound $5-$10 per tonne, he said, but it’s […] Read more

(Dave Bedard photo)

Fund short position climbs in canola

MarketsFarm — Fund traders were active in the ICE Futures canola market during the week ended Tuesday, adding to their large net short position, according to the latest commitment of traders (CoT) report from the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). According to the latest report, managed money and other reportable speculators increased their net […] Read more





Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland told the Canadian Crops Convention March 6 the Canadian government is trying to restore Richardson International’s canola exports to China. (Allan Dawson photo)

Canada working to end China’s canola block, Freeland says

Montreal — The Canadian government is working hard to reopen Richardson International’s Canadian canola markets in China, says Chrystia Freeland, Canada’s minister of foreign affairs. “We’re working closely with Canadian farmers and Canadian industry,” Freeland said in a brief interview after speaking at the Canadian Crops Convention (CCC) here Wednesday. “Our embassy is very focused […] Read more

ICE May 2019 canola with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

ICE weekly outlook: China worries keep market trending down

MarketsFarm — Canola futures on the ICE Futures U.S. platform dropped sharply during the week ended Wednesday, hitting their lowest levels in 2-1/2 years. Concerns over declining Chinese demand sparked the latest selloff in canola amid news that the major canola-buying country had blocked shipments from Canada’s Richardson International. Canadian canola exporters have faced problems […] Read more