Quality of western Canadian canola 2021
Summary
The 2021 harvest had a similar percentage of samples graded Canola, No. 1 Canada (90.6%) when compared to the 2020 harvest (90.5%) and a higher percentage when compared to the 5-year average (88.1%; Table 1). Alberta-Peace River showed the lowest percentage of samples graded Canola, No. 1 Canada, with 84.2% (90.8% in 2020), followed by Manitoba with 93.9% (92.2% in 2020) and Saskatchewan with 94.3% (89.4.2% in 2020). Crop districts No. 7 (73.1%), 3 (77.2%) and 6 (77.3%) from Alberta-Peace River, in the western part of the province, showed the lowest percentage of samples graded Canola, No. 1 Canada.
The 2021 western Canola, No. 1 Canada crop was characterized by an average oil content that was much lower than that measured in the 2020 crop (41.3% versus 44.1%) and a much higher average protein content (24.0% versus 20.8%; Table 1). The average chlorophyll content for Canola, No. 1 Canada samples was identical in 2021 and 2020 (10 mg/kg; Table 1). In 2021, the average total seed glucosinolate content of 12 micromole per gram (μmol/g) was higher than the 2020 value of 9 μmol/g.
The fatty acid compositions of the 2021 and 2020 crops are presented in Table 1. The 2021 average oleic acid content is slightly higher than in 2020 (64.2% versus 63.9%) and higher than the 5-year-average (63.2%). Alpha-linolenic acid content in 2021 was slightly lower than in 2020 (8.6% versus 8.9%) while linoleic acid content was unchanged (18.3%). Total saturated fatty acid content for the 2021 canola crop was slightly lower than in 2020 (6.6% versus 6.8%). This resulted in a slightly lower iodine value for the 2021 canola crop when compared to 2020 (110.9 versus 111.2 units).
Average free fatty acid content in 2021 Canola, No. 1 Canada seed (0.24%) was slightly higher than in 2020 (0.15%; Table 1) with some Manitoba crop district averages higher than 0.40%.
| Quality parameter | 2021 | 2020 | 2016 to 2020 mean |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of received samples | 2185 | 2430 | 2296 |
| Number of Canola, No. 1 Canada samples | 1979 | 2199 | 2017 |
| Percent of samples graded Canola, No. 1 Canada | 90.6 | 90.5 | 88.1 |
| Oil content (%, 8.5% moisture) | 41.3 | 44.1 | 44.4 |
| Protein contentFootnote 1 (%) | 24.0 | 20.8 | 20.5 |
| Oil-free protein of the mealFootnote 2 (%, 12% moisture) | 42.0 | 38.6 | 38.3 |
| Chlorophyll content (mg/kgFootnote 3 in seed) | 10 | 10 | 11 |
| Total seed glucosinolates (μmol/gFootnote 4, 8.5% moisture) | 12 | 9 | 10 |
| Oil-free total glucosinolates of the meal (μmol/gFootnote 4, 8.5% moisture) | 20 | 18 | 19 |
| Free fatty acids (%) | 0.24 | 0.15 | 0.16 |
| Oleic acid (% in oil) | 64.2 | 63.9 | 63.2 |
| Linoleic acid (% in oil) | 18.3 | 18.3 | 18.6 |
| α-Linolenic acid (% in oil) | 8.6 | 8.9 | 9.3 |
| Erucic acid (% in oil) | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Total saturated fatty acidsFootnote 5 (% in oil) | 6.6 | 6.8 | 6.7 |
| Iodine value (unit of oil) | 110.9 | 111.2 | 112.4 |
| Total mono-unsaturated fatty acids (MUFA)Footnote 6 (% in oil) | 65.8 | 65.4 | 64.8 |
| Total poly-unsaturated fatty acids (PUFA)Footnote 7 (% in oil) | 27.0 | 27.3 | 28.0 |