Quality of western Canadian canola, 2009

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Oil content

For Canola, No. 1 Canada, the 2009 mean oil content (44.5%) was similar to the 2008 mean (44.3%), well above (1.1% higher) the ten-year (1999-2008) mean of 43.4%. The mean oil content in Manitoba (43.5%) is lower than in Saskatchewan (45.3%) and Alberta (44.5%). Compared to 2008, mean oil contents have changed by +0.6%, +1.0% and +0.1% respectively for Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta. The oil content of Canola, No. 1 Canada from producers across western Canada ranged from 37.6% to 49.9% in Manitoba and Alberta; in Saskatchewan the oil content ranged from 44.6% to 49.4%. The oil content for Canola, No. 2 Canada was lower than for Canola, No. 1, 44.0% versus 44.5%, the Canola, No. 2 Canada from western Canada ranged from 38.9% to 50.5%.

The increased oil contents seen in the 2009 survey are a result of the generally cooler growing conditions experienced from May to August over much of the western Canadian canola growing area. However, the dry conditions remained in the Peace River region of Alberta and British Columbia; canola was not as stressed as last year because of the summer cool weather.

In general, cool growing conditions at flowering tend to produce canola seed with higher oil contents but lower protein content.

The mean oil content of canola exports from Vancouver was 43.8% in October 2009, similar to the 2008–09 mean (43.5%). It is expected that the mean oil content of the Vancouver exports in the 2008–09 shipping season should remain around 43-44% on a 8.5% moisture basis. The mean oil content of the Thunder Bay export in October 2009 was 42.9%, similar to the 2008–09 mean value of 42.8%.

Oil content of 2009 harvest survey samples, by grade and province

	Number of samples	Oil content1 (%)
		mean	minimum	maximum
1 8.5% moisture basis
2 Includes part of the Peace River area that is in British Columbia
3 Values are weighted averages based on production by province as estimated by Statistics Canada.
Canola, No. 1 Canada
MB	378	43.5	37.9	49.9
SK	569	45.3	38.2	52.2
AB2	408	44.2	37.6	49.7
Western Canada3	1355	44.5	37.6	52.5
Canola, No. 2 Canada
MB	13	42	41.2	45.2
SK	11	44.8	40.9	49.3
AB2	69	43.9	38.9	50.5
Western Canada3	93	44	38.9	50.5
Canola, No. 3 Canada
Western Canada3	18	42.8	35.6	46.7
Canola, Sample Canada
Western Canada3	18	43.1	38.4	47.9

Oil content of harvest survey samples, 1990–2009 - Canola, No. 1 Canada

Crop year	Oil content %
1990	41.4
1991	41.9
1992	42.3
1993	43.0
1994	42.9
1995	42.4
1996	43.4
1997	42.6
1998	43.0
1999	43.3
2000	43.2
2001	42.8
2002	42.5
2003	41.8
2004	43.3
2005	44.4
2006	44.6
2007	43.4
2008	44.3
2009	44.5

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