Clubroot is scary enough but this Canola Council of Canada video on the life cycle of the disease ups the fear factor. Above, a still from the video (available at www.clubroot.ca) shows a zoospore, an amoeba-like creature released from a clubroot spore when it senses a host plant is nearby. The zoospore, powered by two whip-like flagella, can swim a short distance in water film in the soil towards a root hair. It then clamps on and penetrates the root hair and just like in the sci-fi horror classic “Alien,” begins to reproduce. 

A two-year break can prevent a clubroot horror show

Clubroot spores live for 20 years but new research says a 
surprising 99 per cent die in two years — if infestations are light

Reading Time: 4 minutes *[UPDATED: Dec. 28, 2018] Still growing a canola-wheat rotation? One more year between canola crops could make a huge difference when it comes to clubroot. “Recent research has shown that 95 to 99 per cent of spores die over a two-year break,” said Dan Orchard, agronomy specialist with the Canola Council of Canada. “We were […] Read more

(File photo by Dave Bedard)

Canola fund short position holds steady

CNS Canada — Fund traders maintained their net short position in ICE Futures canola contracts, according to the latest commitment of traders (CoT) report by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). According to the latest report, managed money and other reportable speculators increased their net short position in canola by only 500 contracts, to […] Read more


(Noel Hendrickson/DigitalVision/Getty Images)

Richardson to buy Wesson cooking oil brand

A household name in U.S. cooking oils is set to become part of Canadian grain handler and oilseed processor Richardson International. Chicago-based Conagra Brands said Tuesday it will sell its Wesson oil brand and related assets — including a 280,000-square foot U.S. processing plant at Memphis — to Richardson for an undisclosed sum. Wesson-branded retail […] Read more



Canola south of Ethelton, Sask. on Aug. 3, 2017. (Dave Bedard photo)

Tighter StatsCan canola crop won’t affect market, analysts say

CNS Canada — Canada’s canola production has been revised lower in the latest data from Statistics Canada’s Production of Principal Field Crops report, issued Thursday. However, two observers agree the final numbers won’t have much effect on markets. “It’s not a report that’s going to allow canola to trade tremendously strong. It might trade a […] Read more



(Dave Bedard photo)

Net fund short position grows in canola

CNS Canada — Fund traders added to their net short positions in canola during the week ended Tuesday, 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 short position to roughly 44,000 contracts […] Read more




(File photo by Dave Bedard)

Funds’ net short position growing in canola

CNS Canada –– Speculators added to their net short positions in canola during the week ended Tuesday, according to the latest Commitment of Traders (CoT) report from the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). Managed money and other reportable speculators increased their net short position to roughly 29,400 contracts in canola during the reporting period, […] Read more