How Do Snow And Winter Affect Canola Quality?

 

We don’t have a lot of data showing what happens to yield and quality for canola that overwinters in the field. Canola harvested in the spring can have lower weights, lower oil content, higher free fatty acids in the oil and more animal excrement in the harvested sample, which could pose significant challenges from a feed safety perspective. Because the degree of yield or quality degradation is difficult to predict and likely depends on conditions, oilseed processors will assess the physical and intrinsic quality attributes and make a decision as to whether to accept spring-threshed canola at that time.

 

Quality and yield loss can also occur throughout the fall if crops have cured and harvest is delayed due to moisture. We encourage producers to harvest their canola this fall if at all possible and remind them to monitor and manage bins containing crops that have been harvested with elevated grain moisture.

 

To learn more about how snow delays or overwintering can affect canola quality, the Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) encourages growers to send in samples from canola harvested late in 2016 and canola harvested next spring. Growers interested in getting information on the quality of their canola crop can contact Dr. Veronique Barthet at veronqiue.barthet@grainscanada.gc.ca or Twylla McKendry at Twylla.mcKendry@grainscanada.g.ca to receive a harvest survey envelope and a consent card.

 

Video: Independent Seed, National Impact | On The Brink: Episode 9

A survey of 200 independent seed businesses reveals what Canada's seed sector actually contributes — and what it stands to lose.

On the Brink, Justin Funk, a third-generation agri-marketer, shares the findings of a national survey conducted in early 2026. The numbers reframe the conversation: independent seed companies in Canada represent upwards of $1.7 billion in dedicated seed infrastructure, approximately 3,000 full-time equivalent jobs in rural communities, and an estimated $20 million in annual community contributions. And roughly 90% of Canada's cereals, pulses, and other small pollinated crops flow through them.

The survey also asked how dependent these businesses are on public plant breeding to survive. The answer was unambiguous. For policymakers evaluating the future of publicly funded breeding programs, Funk argues the economic case for this sector and the case for public plant breeding are the same argument.

On the Brink is a cross-country video series exploring the future of plant breeding in Canada. Each episode features voices from across the industry in an open, ongoing conversation about innovation and long-term investment in Canadian agriculture.