Canadian canola approved for US biodiesel use

Thursday, September 29, 2011

by BETTER FARMING STAFF

Recent U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approval for Canadian canola exports to the United States for biodiesel production will likely have the greatest impact in Western Canada.

James McKinlay, president of the Ontario Canola Growers Association said production from Ontario’s 65,000-acre canola crop goes mainly to the crush market for high-quality oil and for meal used in livestock feed.

“I think the majority of the Ontario crop will likely end up in the domestic crush just because of (high) quality and price,” he said, adding that off grade canolas historically are used more in biofuel production. He said Western producers have greater challenges with green seed and the potential for frost damage that downgrades the canola slightly.

Ontario canola is grown in cooler regions of the province with half of the production in the New Liskeard area. Up to 19 million acres of canola is grown in the three Prairie provinces. Annual Canadian canola sales total more than $5 billion.

The EPA’s approval will ensure that all approved Canadian biofuel and biofuel feed stock, including canola, meets U.S. requirements. In other words, if a commodity meets Canadian approval as a biofuel feedstock, it is automatically approved for use in the U.S. system. BF