Quality of Canadian canola 2025

Seeding

In the spring of 2025, canola seeding conditions in Ontario and Quebec were generally cooler and wetter than normal. This led to some localized delays in planting, but most fields were seeded within the optimal window. Above average precipitation improved soil moisture but slowed early fieldwork and emergence in parts of both provinces. Most spring canola was seeded in May, with some later planting occurring in June. Cool soil conditions led to slow or uneven emergence in several areas.

April was warmer than normal across parts of the Prairies (Figure 3), which allowed seeding to begin earlier than last year (Figure 7). Canola seeding was already underway before May, with 10% progress reported for Saskatchewan by May 5, and 6% progress reported for Alberta by May 6. In Manitoba, seeding began around May 13. May remained warmer than normal (Figure 3), and although precipitation was isolated, conditions generally supported rapid seeding with few interruptions.

As May advanced, soil moisture levels declined (Figure 5) due to variable and limited precipitation across most of the canola growing regions (Figure 4). Seeding concluded in early June in all three Prairie provinces. In 2025, seeding progress in each province consistently outpaced last year, finishing one to two weeks earlier than in 2024 (Figure 7) and ahead of the five-year average.

Growing season

In eastern Canada, dry growing conditions prevailed as the season progressed, even during the seed filling stage in August (2025 – Field Crop News, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness).

Throughout June and July, isolated rainfall and thunderstorms produced uneven precipitation patterns across the Prairies (Figure 4). By the end of June, 60% of Saskatchewan’s canola crop and 58.1% of Alberta’s canola crop were rated in good to excellent condition. Most of the crop entered the flowering stage in July under cooler than normal temperatures (Figure 3), which supported a longer flowering period that often led to higher yields. By late July, 68% of Saskatchewan’s canola crop was rated good to excellent, compared with 60.3% in Alberta, as precipitation was uneven in the Prairies (Figure 4). August brought warmer temperatures (Figure 3) and widespread rainfall (Figure 4), which improved soil moisture conditions (Figure 8). However, the improved conditions might have been too late to significantly benefit the crops that were seeded early.

Harvest conditions

In Ontario and Quebec, 2025 harvest conditions were generally favourable with little precipitation, which allowed the harvest to proceed in a timely manner. Uneven maturity and lighter crops were reported in some areas where crops had experienced stress early in the growing season. Overall, harvest progress was smooth, with limited delays, but yields were variable where summer dryness, insect pressure, or disease had affected crop development.

The canola harvest began in late August in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta, and followed a timeline that was similar to 2024 (Figure 8). September was warmer than in 2024 (Figure 3) and had limited precipitation. This allowed harvest to progress with minimal delays, except in Manitoba where heavy rainfall slowed operations (Figure 4). By the third week of October, the canola harvest was considered completed across the Prairies, similar to 2024 (Figure 8).

April 1 to 30, 2025

May 1 to 31, 2025

June 1 to 30, 2025

July 1 to 31, 2025

August 1 to 31, 2025

September 1 to 30, 2025

Source

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

April 2025

May 2025

June 2025

July 2025

August 2025

September 2025

Source

Agriculture and Agri-food Canada

Conditions as of May 31, 2025

Conditions as of June 30, 2025

Conditions as of July 31, 2025

Conditions as of August 31, 2025

Source

Agriculture and Agri-food Canada

July 31, 2025

August 31, 2025

Source

Agriculture and Agri-food Canada

Graph data

Seeding progress (%)

Date	Manitoba	Saskatchewan	Alberta-Peace River
April 30, 2024	0	n/a	0
May 6, 2024	n/a	6	n/a
May 7, 2024	0	n/a	5.5
May 10, 2024	n/a	99	n/a
May 13, 2024	n/a	17	n/a
May 14, 2024	6	n/a	14.9
May 21, 2024	20	n/a	40.2
May 27, 2024	n/a	71	n/a
May 28, 2024	41	n/a	66.6
June 3, 2024	n/a	93	n/a
June 4, 2024	71	n/a	96.3
June 18, 2024	96	n/a	n/a
April 29, 2025	0	n/a	n/a
May 5, 2025	n/a	10	n/a
May 6, 2025	1	n/a	5
May 12, 2025	n/a	29	n/a
May 13, 2025	1	n/a	23.7
May 19, 2025	n/a	58	n/a
May 20, 2025	n/a	n/a	55.7
May 21, 2025	30	n/a	n/a
May 26, 2025	n/a	83	n/a
May 27, 2025	76	n/a	82.5
June 2, 2025	n/a	97	n/a
June 3, 2025	90	n/a	98.9
June 9, 2025	n/a	100	n/a
June 10, 2025	100	n/a	n/a

Graph data

Harvest progress (%)

Date	Manitoba	Saskatchewan	Alberta-Peace River
August 12, 2024	n/a	1	n/a
August 13, 2024	0	n/a	0
August 19, 2024	0	2	n/a
August 20, 2024	n/a	n/a	0.2
August 26, 2024	3	8	n/a
August 27, 2024	n/a	n/a	1.2
September 2, 2024	n/a	16	n/a
September 3, 2024	13	n/a	4.9
September 9, 2024	n/a	28	n/a
September 10, 2024	30	n/a	20.9
September 16, 2024	n/a	47	n/a
September 17, 2024	49	n/a	30.8
September 23, 2024	n/a	56	n/a
September 24, 2024	55	n/a	48.5
September 30, 2024	n/a	82	n/a
October 1, 2024	n/a	n/a	71.1
October 2, 2024	78	n/a	n/a
October 7, 2024	n/a	94	n/a
October 8, 2024	94	n/a	83
October 14, 2024	n/a	98	n/a
October 15, 2024	n/a	n/a	91.6
October 16, 2024	98	n/a	n/a
October 21, 2024	n/a	100	n/a
October 22, 2024	n/a	n/a	97.9
October 23, 2024	99	n/a	n/a
August 11, 2025	n/a	0	n/a
August 12, 2025	n/a	n/a	0
August 13, 2025	0	n/a	n/a
August 17, 2025	0	n/a	n/a
August 18, 2025	n/a	1	n/a
August 19, 2025	n/a	n/a	0.1
August 25, 2025	1	1	n/a
August 26, 2025	n/a	n/a	0.4
September 1, 2025	n/a	4	n/a
September 2, 2025	n/a	n/a	3.2
September 3, 2025	10	n/a	n/a
September 9, 2025	18	12	13.2
September 15, 2025	n/a	21	n/a
September 16, 2025	33	n/a	27.2
September 21, 2025	45	n/a	n/a
September 22, 2025	n/a	42	n/a
September 23, 2025	n/a	n/a	55.9
September 29, 2025	76	71	76.9
October 6, 2025	92	89	n/a
October 7, 2025	n/a	n/a	72.1
October 13, 2025	n/a	98	n/a
October 14, 2025	n/a	n/a	98.5
October 16, 2025	96	n/a	n/a
October 20, 2025	100	98	n/a

Production

The number of hectares seeded with canola in Canada since 2000 is given in Figure 9. It was estimated that canola producers seeded approximately 159,300 ha less in 2025 than in 2024 (8,748,200 ha in 2025 versus 8,907,500 ha in 2024). The 2025 seeded area was similar to the 5-year average (8,785,640 ha) but 565,200 ha less than the record set in 2017 when 9,313,400 ha of canola was seeded (Figure 9).

According to Statistics Canada there were nearly 22,900 ha of both winter canola (seeded in 2024) and spring canola seeded in Ontario in 2025, 100 ha less than in 2024 (22,800 ha).

Graph data

Seeded area (hectares)

Year	Canada	Quebec	Manitoba	Saskatchewan	Alberta	British Columbia
2000	4,937,000	6,000	951,000	2,387,600	1,537,800	36,400
2001	3,826,800	3,800	768,900	1,922,300	1,092,700	24,300
2002	3,876,800	6,000	890,300	1,746,200	1,193,800	16,200
2003	4,735,700	11,000	1,011,700	2,306,700	1,355,700	30,400
2004	5,218,200	14,000	1,116,900	2,428,100	1,608,600	28,300
2005	5,369,900	14,000	1,011,700	2,549,500	1,740,100	34,400
2006	5,283,300	6,200	1,003,600	2,418,900	1,821,100	26,000
2007	6,382,200	8,500	1,238,300	3,049,300	2,037,600	28,300
2008	6,541,100	19,500	1,254,500	3,116,100	2,104,400	24,300
2009	6,689,300	12,000	1,305,100	3,298,200	2,023,400	30,400
2010	7,116,800	12,500	1,345,600	3,439,800	2,246,000	40,500
2011	7,684,700	16,600	1,133,100	4,006,400	2,457,100	35,800
2012	8,974,400	17,000	1,469,000	4,694,400	2,711,400	48,600
2013	8,274,100	15,500	1,315,200	4,309,900	2,565,700	40,500
2014	8,457,900	14,000	1,284,900	4,350,400	2,751,900	42,500
2015	8,411,300	12,000	1,301,100	4,512,200	2,535,400	36,400
2016	8,410,900	13,800	1,294,800	4,552,700	2,495,200	38,400
2017	9,313,400	15,000	1,278,800	5,151,600	2,804,500	45,300
2018	9,232,200	14,700	1,382,400	4,997,900	2,755,900	55,400
2019	8,571,700	12,100	1,338,600	4,765,200	2,401,200	34,700
2020	8,410,400	11,200	1,381,600	4,588,800	2,377,900	37,300
2021	9,015,600	13,700	1,385,700	4,848,300	2,705,700	41,200
2022	8,658,600	16,600	1,327,700	4,610,900	2,639,000	40,700
2023	8,936,100	13,600	1,265,900	5,018,200	2,575,000	43,900
2024	8,907,500	15,500	1,350,100	4,890,900	2,584,000	43,300
2025	8,748,200	8,900	1,225,500	4,932,100	2,512,400	45,200
5-year average (2020-2024)	8,785,640	14,120	1,342,200	4,791,420	2,576,320	41,280
10-year average (2014-2024)	8,786,770	13,820	1,330,670	4,793,670	2,587,380	41,660

Graph data

Production (tonnes)

Year	Canada	Quebec	Ontario	Manitoba	Saskatchewan	Alberta	British Columbia
2000	7,205,300	6,000	18,200	1,487,800	3,424,600	2,188,600	55,200
2001	5,017,100	3,800	14,800	1,134,000	2,154,600	1,655,600	34,000
2002	4,520,500	6,000	24,300	1,451,500	1,769,000	1,224,700	18,100
2003	6,771,200	11,000	20,200	1,769,000	2,676,200	2,222,600	38,600
2004	7,673,600	14,000	22,300	1,746,300	2,880,300	2,925,700	43,800
2005	9,483,300	14,000	20,200	1,261,000	4,456,500	3,651,400	63,500
2006	9,000,300	6,200	7,500	1,825,700	3,696,800	3,424,600	27,200
2007	9,611,100	8,500	20,200	1,950,400	4,154,900	3,401,900	47,600
2008	12,644,900	19,500	22,300	2,576,400	5,629,100	4,322,700	31,800
2009	12,898,100	12,000	20,200	2,891,700	6,259,600	3,628,700	49,900
2010	12,788,600	12,500	32,400	2,215,800	5,692,600	4,740,000	39,700
2011	14,608,100	16,600	35,700	1,746,300	7,348,200	5,347,900	56,000
2012	13,868,500	17,000	30,400	2,100,100	6,486,400	5,097,200	82,800
2013	18,551,000	15,500	24,300	3,025,500	9,178,400	6,168,900	88,700
2014	16,410,100	14,000	14,200	2,510,600	7,971,900	5,796,900	71,900
2015	18,376,500	12,000	14,200	2,857,600	9,536,800	5,851,300	70,800
2016	19,599,200	13,800	16,000	2,608,200	10,682,100	6,157,500	81,600
2017	21,458,100	15,000	18,200	3,147,900	11,311,000	6,826,600	90,600
2018	20,723,500	14,700	25,500	3,318,400	11,308,000	5,870,600	123,900
2019	19,912,300	12,100	18,900	3,056,300	11,394,000	5,320,100	72,000
2020	19,484,700	11,200	13,100	3,190,700	10,967,900	5,212,100	55,900
2021	12,594,605	13,700	19,300	2,290,642	5,987,419	4,173,050	65,607
2022	18,173,774	16,600	22,800	2,876,431	9,533,269	5,591,701	68,975
2023	18,328,233	13,600	18,300	3,053,162	9,712,846	5,394,059	82,269
2024	17,844,515	15,500	22,800	2,783,550	9,798,998	5,091,584	70,663
2025	21,803,968	19,211	59,052	3,062,966	12,203,632	6,349,122	107,289
5-year average (2020-2024)	17,285,165	14,120	19,260	2,838,897	9,200,086	5,092,499	68,683
10-year average (2014-2024)	18,649,543	13,820	18,910	2,918,289	10,023,233	5,548,859	78,231

Statistics Canada estimated the average canola yield for western Canada in 2025 to be 2,507 kilograms per hectare (kg/ha). This was higher than the 2024 average (2,175 kg/ha), the 5-year average (2,100 kg/ha) and the 10-year average (2,202 kg/ha). The highest average yield was reported for Ontario (2,789 kg/ha in 2025 versus 2,763 kg/ha in 2024), followed by Alberta (2,544 kg/ha in 2025 versus 2,191 kg/ha in 2024), Manitoba (2,510 kg/ha in 2025 versus 2,253 kg/ha in 2024), Saskatchewan (2,488 kg/ha in 2025 versus 2,146 kg/ha in 2024) and British-Colombia (2,372 kg/ha in 2025 versus 1,635 kg/ha in 2024). The lowest average yield was reported for Quebec (2,247 kg/ha in 2025 versus 2,342 kg/ha in 2024). In the west, the cooler temperatures contributed to the 2025 yield being higher than the 2024 yield. In Quebec, the lack of moisture was likely responsible for the yield in 2025 being lower than the 2024 yield.

As of February 2025, Statistics Canada estimated Canadian canola production at 21,803,968 metric tonnes (MT). This is higher than last year’s revised production of 19,239,463 MT (Figure 10) and the 5-year average of 17,285,165 MT. The increased production in 2025 was due to a yield increase of 332 kg/ha, which is linked to the more favorable growing conditions in the Prairies compared to 2024.

In 2025, 56.0% of the canola in Canada was produced in Saskatchewan (54.3% in 2024). Quebec produced 0.1% (0.2% in 2024), Ontario produced 0.3% (0.3% in 2024), Alberta produced 29.1% (29.1% in 2024), Manitoba produced 14.0% (15.7% in 2024) and British Columbia produced 0.5% (0.4% in 2024).

Table 2  Oil, protein, chlorophyll, total glucosinolate and free fatty acid content of oil for 2025 canola harvest samples according to grade and province

Table 3  Main fatty acid composition, total SFA, PUFA and MUFA content and iodine value of oil for 2025 canola harvest samples according to grade and province

Oil content

In 2025, No. 1 canola had a mean oil content of 43.6% (Table 1). This is significantly higher than the 2024 mean (42.4%), higher than the 5-year mean (42.6%) and similar to the 10-year mean (43.5%). The 5-year mean and the 10-year mean are greatly affected by the record low oil content values observed in 2021 and 2022 (Figure 12) and are much lower than the 2005 to 2020 mean (44.3%). The 2025 mean oil content for No. 1 canola showed a noticeable rebound from 2021, with the highest level recorded since that year (Figure 12).

Canola graded No. 1 from the Alberta-Peace River region had a mean oil content of 44.5% (43.1% in 2024 and 43.8% in 2023). This was higher than the Manitoba mean of 42.7% (42.1% in 2024 and 42.8% in 2023) and the Saskatchewan mean of 43.3% (42.2% in 2024 and 43.1% in 2023) (Table 2). Samples from eastern Canada had a higher mean oil content than samples from western Canada. Samples from Ontario had a mean oil content of 43.6% (43.6% in 2024 and 43.9% in 2023), identical to the Canadian mean.

The oil content of individual canola samples graded No. 1 ranged from 39.0% to 49.1% in Manitoba (38.5% to 50.0% in 2024), 37.8% to 49.0% in Saskatchewan (32.5% to 49.1% in 2024), 38.5% to 50.8% in the Alberta-Peace River region (35.6% to 49.8% in 2024) and 41.4% to 48.2% in Ontario (41.5% to 46.5% in 2024) (Table 2).

In 2025, the mean oil content of No. 2 canola from western Canada (42.9%) was lower than the mean oil content of No. 1 canola from western Canada (43.6%). No. 2 canola from Alberta-Peace River had a mean oil content of 44.0% (42.4% in 2024), which is higher than the mean of 42.9% for No. 2 canola from Saskatchewan (42.8% in 2024) and the mean of 41.4% for No. 2 canola from Manitoba (40.8% in 2024). Oil content for No. 2 canola samples from western Canada ranged from 37.2% to 47.9%, compared to 37.6% to 48.1% in 2024 (Table 2). The mean oil content of canola graded No. 3 from western Canada was 41.8% (42.0% in 2024) and was 41.5% (42.2% in 2024) for canola graded Sample.

Oil content is influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. The Canadian canola variety registration system has been developed, however, to ensure that new varieties meet minimum standards for quality, with oil content being a key quality parameter. For any known canola variety, hot and dry growing conditions rather than cool conditions, will result in canola seeds with a lower oil content.

In 2025, the early‑seeded canola crop was able to become well established under adequate moisture conditions. However, as May progressed, declining soil moisture likely hindered the emergence of later‑seeded crops. Cooler temperatures in July (Figure 3) and the absence of days above 30°C (Figure 6) supported an extended flowering period, which contributed to higher yield potential. These favourable conditions also helped produce canola with a higher oil content than last year. Wildfire smoke slowed crop development by reducing sunlight, delaying maturity even though seeding occurred roughly two weeks earlier than the previous year (Figure 7). Warmer than normal temperatures in September allowed producers to harvest a mature crop (distinctly green seeds at 0.5%) with higher oil content than the previous season.

The mean oil content of CC No. 1 canola exports was 42.6% for December 2025 (with 2.1% dockage) and 42.3% for August to November 2025 (with 1.8% dockage) (Table 4). For the NCC No. 1 canola exports, the mean oil content was 41.0% (with 3.1% dockage) for December 2025 and 42.1% (with 2.9% dockage) for August to November 2025 (Table 4). Harvest samples are completely clean (0% dockage) whereas the tolerance for CC exports is a maximum of 2.5% dockage. Compared to the harvest samples, the CC and the NCC export samples of No.1 canola had a lower mean oil content due to dilution from dockage. For last year’s shipping season (August 2024 to July 2025), the mean oil content of CC No.1 canola exports was 42.0% (with 1.41% dockage). The oil content of the exports from the beginning of this year’s shipping season (August 2025 to December 2025) showed an increase in oil content compared to last season, which corresponds to the increase in oil content found in the 2025 harvest samples compared to 2024.

Graph data

Oil content (%, 8.5% moisture)

Year	Oil content
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
2010	44.3
2011	45.2
2012	43.5
2013	44.8
2014	44.2
2015	44.2
2016	44.3
2017	45.0
2018	44.1
2019	44.6
2020	44.1
2021	41.3
2022	42.1
2023	43.2
2024	42.4
2025	43.6
5-year average (2020-2024)	42.6
10-year average (2015-2024)	43.5

Protein content

The mean protein content of canola seed (8.5% moisture) and the calculated mean protein content of oil-free meal (12% moisture) from 2000 to 2025 are given in Figure 13 and Figure 14, respectively. The mean seed protein content for all Canadian samples was 21.5% for No. 1 canola, 22.0% for No. 2 canola, 22.3% for No. 3 canola and 22.3% for canola graded Sample (Table 2). The mean protein content for No. 1 canola seed in 2025 (21.5%) was lower than the 2024 mean (22.9%) and the 5-year mean (22.4%), similar to the 10-year mean (21.4%), but much lower than the record high 2021 mean (24.0%) (Table 1 and Figure 13). The protein content of individual No. 1 canola seed samples ranged from 18.0% to 22.8% for Ontario, 16.9% to 25.0% for Manitoba, 15.2% to 26.2% for Saskatchewan and 15.6% to 26.5% for Alberta-Peace River (Table 2). The protein content for western Canadian samples ranged from 17.7% to 25.8% for No. 2 canola seed, 17.7% to 27.2% for No. 3 canola seed and 19.8% to 27.1% for canola seed graded Sample (Table 2).

A strong inverse relationship between oil and protein content can be observed in canola seeds. In 2025, the mean oil content for seeds was 1.2% higher than in 2024 and the mean protein content for seeds concurrently decreased by 1.4% compared to 2024.

The mean protein content of CC exports of No. 1 canola seed was 21.7% for December 2025 and 22.1% for August to November 2025 (Table 4). Mean protein content for canola seed for the August 2024 to July 2025 shipping season (23.3%) was significantly higher than the mean for this year’s shipping season, which is consistent with the 2025 mean protein content for harvest samples (Table 4).

Graph data

Protein content of seeds (%, 8.5% moisture)

Year	Protein content of seeds
2000	21.0
2001	22.3
2002	23.2
2003	23.3
2004	21.5
2005	20.5
2006	21.0
2007	21.7
2008	20.8
2009	19.9
2010	20.1
2011	19.6
2012	21.3
2013	19.8
2014	20.2
2015	20.7
2016	20.1
2017	20.1
2018	21.1
2019	20.4
2020	20.8
2021	24.0
2022	22.4
2023	21.8
2024	22.9
2025	21.5
5-year average (2020-2024)	22.4
10-year average (2015-2024)	21.4

Graph data

Protein content of oil-free meal (%, 12% moisture)

Year	Protein content of meal on oil-free basis
2000	38.3
2001	40.2
2002	41.7
2003	41.2
2004	39.3
2005	38.3
2006	39.5
2007	39.6
2008	38.7
2009	37.7
2010	37.5
2011	37.3
2012	39.0
2013	36.1
2014	37.4
2015	38.6
2016	37.4
2017	38.0
2018	39.1
2019	38.3
2020	38.6
2021	41.9
2022	39.9
2023	39.5
2024	41.1
2025	39.4
5-year average (2020-2024)	41.1
10-year average (2015-2024)	41.1

The calculated protein content of oil-free meal is the maximum protein content of a theoretical meal that would be obtained if a crushing plant was able to extract 100% of the oil from the seeds. In 2025, the calculated mean protein content of oil-free meal at 12% moisture was 39.4%. This is significantly lower than the 2024 mean (41.1%) and the 5-year mean (40.2%), much lower than the record 2021 mean (41.9%), but similar to the 10-year mean (39.2%) (Table 1 and Figure 4). The calculated mean protein content of oil-free meal at 12% moisture was highest for samples from Ontario (43.4% in 2025 versus 39.1% in 2024), followed by Alberta-Peace River (39.9% in 2025 versus 42.3% in 2024), Manitoba (39.3% in 2025 versus 39.5% in 2024) and Saskatchewan (39.2% in 2024 versus 41.0% in 2024) (Table 2).

The calculated mean protein content of oil-free meal at 12% moisture for CC export samples of No. 1 canola was 39.5% for August to November 2025 and 39.1% for December 2025. These results are lower than the mean of 41.0% for CC export samples of No. 1 canola from the previous shipping season (August 2024 to July 2025) (Table 4).

Chlorophyll content

In 2025, the mean chlorophyll content for harvest samples graded No. 1 was 8 mg/kg for Canada, 5 mg/kg for Ontario, 5 mg/kg for Manitoba and 8 mg/kg for Saskatchewan and Alberta-Peace River (Table 2). The Canada-wide mean was identical to the 2024 mean, similar to the 5-year mean (9 mg/kg) and lower than the 10-year mean (10 mg/kg) (Table 1). The 2025 and 2024 means were the lowest means for chlorophyll content observed in the last 10 years (Figure 15). Individual samples of No. 1 canola showed variations in chlorophyll content due to variable growing conditions. Chlorophyll content values for No. 1 canola samples ranged from 4 mg/kg to 14 mg/kg for Ontario, less than 3 mg/kg to 33 mg/kg for Manitoba, less than 3 mg/kg to 32 mg/kg in Saskatchewan and less than 3 mg/kg to 37 mg/kg in Alberta-Peace River (Table 2). Canola from Saskatchewan CAR 15 (north-central area) and Alberta crop district 3 (western area) had the highest means for chlorophyll content (12 mg/kg and 11 mg/kg, respectively).

The mean chlorophyll content of canola harvest samples graded No. 2 was 20 mg/kg (Table 2), which was similar to the 2024 mean (19 mg/kg). Canola samples graded No. 3 had a mean chlorophyll content of 19 mg/kg, which was lower than the 2024 mean (27 mg/kg) and canola samples graded Sample had a mean chlorophyll content of 9 mg/kg, which was similar to 2024 mean (10 mg/kg ). In 2025, canola samples were downgraded for several factors other than immaturity, including sprouted seeds and brown damaged seeds.

Graph data

Chlorophyll content of seeds (mg/kg, as is moisture)

Year	Chlorophyll content
2000	14.4
2001	16.7
2002	13.4
2003	15.0
2004	16.5
2005	13.9
2006	13.7
2007	14.6
2008	11.0
2009	15.4
2010	12.8
2011	15.9
2012	17.4
2013	12.0
2014	13.3
2015	12.0
2016	11.3
2017	11.3
2018	10.3
2019	12.0
2020	10.1
2021	9.9
2022	9.0
2023	8.9
2024	7.9
2025	7.6
5-year average (2020-2024)	9.1
10-year average (2015-2024)	10.3

Historical means for chlorophyll content vary greatly from year to year (Figure 15) due to variable growing conditions. High chlorophyll content can be related to one or more factors, including delays in seeding due to cold temperatures and rain, poor growing conditions due to lack of heat units, and an early frost. In 2025, seeding started and ended earlier than in 2024 for Saskatchewan and Alberta-Peace River (Figure 7).

Wildfire smoke over the Prairies during most of the 2025 growing season led to cooler growing conditions compared to 2024. This resulted in delayed crop development, which led to a start time for the 2025 harvest that was similar to 2024, even though seeding had finished approximately two weeks earlier. There was no early frost, and temperatures remained above normal in September until the end of the growing season (Figure 3). This allowed the 2025 canola crop to mature fully without problems and led to comparable 2025 and 2024 means for chlorophyll content.

Canola graded No. 1 must contain no more than 2% distinctly green (DGR) seeds. The mean DGR seed content in No. 1 canola samples were identical in 2025 and 2024 for Ontario (0.4%), Manitoba (0.7%), Saskatchewan (0.4%) and Alberta-Peace River (0.6%). The mean DGR seed content for all Canadian samples was 0.5%.

The chlorophyll content of Canadian canola exports is affected by DGR seed and dockage content. The mean DGR seed content was 0.4% for the December 2025 CC canola exports and the August to November 2025 CC canola exports, and 0.3% for the August to December 2025 NCC canola exports (Table 4). The mean chlorophyll content was similar for CC export samples for December 2025, August to November 2025 and August 2024 to July 2025 (Table 4).

Glucosinolate content

The mean total glucosinolate content of canola seeds at 8.5% moisture and the calculated mean total glucosinolate content of oil-free canola meal at 8.5% moisture from 2000 to 2025 are presented in Figure 16 and Figure 17, respectively.

In 2025, canola No. 1 had a mean total glucosinolate content of 12 micromoles per gram of seeds (μmol/g), which is similar to the 2024 mean (13 μmol/g of seeds) (Table 2) and the 5-year and 10-year means (11 μmol/g of seeds). This is the fourth highest mean for total glucosinolate content in the last 10 years (Figure 8). Mean total glucosinolate content was 11 μmol/g of seeds for Ontario (10 μmol/g of seeds in 2024), 12 μmol/g of seeds for Manitoba (11 μmol/g of seeds in 2024), 12 μmol/g of seeds for Saskatchewan (13 μmol/g of seeds in 2024) and 11 μmol/g of seeds for Alberta-Peace River (14 μmol/g of seeds in 2024). Samples from Saskatchewan CAR 08 (southwestern area) and Manitoba crop district 5 (northwestern area) had the highest means for total glucosinolate content (15 μmol/g of seeds and 14 μmol/g of seeds, respectively). Individual samples of canola No. 1 had total glucosinolate content values ranging from 5 to 12 μmol/g of seeds for Ontario, less than 3 to 19 μmol/g of seeds for Manitoba, 5 to 28 μmol/g of seeds for Saskatchewan and 5 to 22 μmol/g of seeds for Alberta-Peace River.

The canola growing areas were affected by a lack of moisture during the 2025 growing season, with the Prairies suffering from severe to extreme drought during most of the growing season (Figure 8) even though some moisture was received (Figure 4). Figure 6 shows that there were very few days in July and August with temperatures over 30°C. Average temperatures in June and July were cooler than last year and warmer in August and September (Figure 3). Since 2021, there have been drought conditions during the entire canola growing season.

Our glucosinolate observations align with a research study from Australia that showed hot and dry conditions after flowering increases total glucosinolate levels in canola seed. Since 2021, limited moisture has contributed to elevated total glucosinolate concentrations in Canadian canola and to the wide range of values observed for individual samples in 2025.

The December 2025 and the August to November 2025 CC canola exports had a mean total glucosinolate content of 10 μmol/g of seeds, which is identical to the mean for the previous shipping season (Table 4).

In 2025, 12 μmol/g of total glucosinolates in seed corresponded to 20 μmol/g of total glucosinolates in oil-free meal on an 8.5% moisture basis (Table 1). This is lower than the 2024 mean of 24 μmol/g for oil-free meal and slightly lower than both the 5-year and 10-year means (21 μmol/g) (Figure 17 and Table 1). Total glucosinolate content in Canadian canola meal obtained from conventional crushing plants (expeller press followed by solvent extraction) is much lower than this calculated value. The calculated value assumes that 100% of the oil is recovered from the seed during crushing and that no glucosinolates are destroyed during processing, which is never the case.

Graph data

Total glucosinolate content of seeds (µmol/g, 8.5% moisture)

Year	Total glucosinolate content of seeds
2000	9.9
2001	10.9
2002	12.4
2003	11.2
2004	9.4
2005	9.5
2006	10.0
2007	9.8
2008	8.5
2009	9.6
2010	9.9
2011	10.3
2012	10.9
2013	10.1
2014	9.8
2015	10.9
2016	10.3
2017	10.5
2018	10.3
2019	9.4
2020	9.3
2021	11.1
2022	11.7
2023	12.0
2024	12.9
2025	11.6
5-year average (2020-2024)	11.4
10-year average (2015-2024)	10.8

Graph data

Total glucosinolate content of oil-free meal (µmol/g, 8.5% moisture)

Year	Total glucosinolate content of oil-free meal
2000	18.8
2001	20.5
2002	23.1
2003	20.5
2004	17.8
2005	18.4
2006	19.5
2007	18.6
2008	16.6
2009	18.7
2010	19.2
2011	20.3
2012	20.8
2013	19.9
2014	19.0
2015	21.1
2016	19.9
2017	20.6
2018	19.8
2019	18.3
2020	17.9
2021	20.1
2022	21.6
2023	22.6
2024	24.0
2025	20.2
5-year average (2020-2024)	21.2
10-year average (2015-2024)	20.6

Free fatty acid content

In 2025, the mean free fatty acid (FFA) content of canola samples graded No. 1 was 0.20% (as oleic acid). This was lower than the 2024 mean (0.25%) and the 5-year mean (0.22%), and higher than the 10-year mean (19%) (Table 1 and Figure 18). The 2025 mean FFA content for No. 1 canola samples from Manitoba (0.49% in 2025 and 0.43% in 2024) was higher than the Ontario mean (0.33% in 2025 and 0.41% in 2024), Alberta-Peace River mean (0.15% in 2025 and 0.28% in 2024) and Saskatchewan mean (0.15% in 2025 and 0.19% in 2024) (Table 2). Manitoba No. 1 canola samples had a mean FFA content that was higher than the western Canada mean. The FFA content for Manitoba ranged from 0.28% to 1.00%, which may pose a problem for local crushers.

Western Canada canola samples graded No. 2 had a higher mean FFA content (0.52% in 2025 versus 0.57% in 2024) than those graded No. 1 (Table 2). Manitoba samples had the highest mean FFA content (1.23% in 2025 versus 1.21% in 2024), which was significantly higher than the Saskatchewan mean (0.44% in 2025 versus 0.40% in 2024) and the Alberta mean (0.19% in 2025 versus 0.44% in 2024).

Plant stress and seed sprouting that is due to hot and dry growing conditions and/or rain at harvest can often lead to an increase in FFA content. In 2025, brown damaged seeds were observed in a large number of samples, especially in Manitoba. This damage was the result of plant stress, likely due to the lack of moisture. Sprouting was also noticed in some 2025 canola samples, which was due to rain during harvest (Figure 4).

Graph data

Free fatty acid content (% in oil, as oleic acid)

Year	Free fatty acid content
2000	0.24
2001	0.35
2002	0.35
2003	0.23
2004	0.19
2005	0.11
2006	0.17
2007	0.18
2008	0.10
2009	0.15
2010	0.16
2011	0.12
2012	0.14
2013	0.13
2014	0.18
2015	0.18
2016	0.20
2017	0.15
2018	0.15
2019	0.15
2020	0.15
2021	0.24
2022	0.26
2023	0.21
2024	0.25
2025	0.20
5-year average (2020-2024)	0.22
10-year average (2015-2024)	0.19

The mean FFA content for CC canola No. 1 was 0.20% for the December 2025 exports and 0.30% for the August to November 2025 exports (Table 4). For individual CC canola No. 1 export samples, the FFA content values ranged from 0.12% to 1.0% (0.10% to 0.69% for the previous shipping season).

It has been observed that FFA content can increase during the shipping season. Storage conditions can activate hydrolytic enzymes in seeds which leads to an increase in FFA production. FFA content can vary considerably from each load throughout the entire shipping season.

Fatty acid composition

The mean erucic acid (C22:1) content of all Canadian samples of canola graded No. 1 was considered to be 0.00% in 2025, below the limit of quantification. Over the last several years, the mean erucic acid content in canola samples graded No. 1 ranged from below the limit of detection to just over the limit of detection (Table 1 and Table 3, Figure 19). These low values are a direct result of plant breeding efforts by the Canadian canola industry.

In 2025, the mean alpha-linolenic acid (C18:3) content for all Canadian samples of No. 1 canola was 9.0%, which was similar to the 2024 mean (9.2%) and the 10-year mean (9.2%), and slightly higher than the 5-year mean of 8.8% (Table 1 and Figure 20). Samples from Ontario had the lowest mean alpha-linolenic acid content (8.4%) followed by samples from Manitoba (9.0%), Saskatchewan (9.0%) and Alberta-Peace River (9.2%). Alpha-linolenic acid content ranged from 7.5% to 9.9% for samples from eastern Canada and from 6.4% to 12.8% for samples from the Prairie provinces (Table 3).

In 2025, the mean oleic acid (C18:1) content of all Canadian samples of No. 1 canola was 64.2%, which was higher than the 2024 mean (63.4%) and similar to the 5-year mean of 64.0% (Table 1 and Figure 21). The lowest mean oleic acid content was found in samples from Alberta-Peace River (64.2% in 2025 versus 63.2% in 2024) and the highest in Ontario (64.5 % in 2025 versus 65.0% in 2024) (Table 3). The oleic acid content ranged from 60.5% to 66.6% for samples from Ontario (63.5% to 66.5% in 2024), 58.2% to 66.8% for samples from Manitoba (58.7% to 66.7% in 2024), 57.9% to 68.2% for samples from Saskatchewan (57.1% to 67.5% in 2024) and 56.9% to 68.3% for samples from Alberta-Peace River (58.0% to 66.1% in 2024).

The mean total monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) content in 2025 was 66.0% in Ontario (66.5% in 2024), 65.5% in Manitoba (65.1% in 2024), 66.0% in Saskatchewan (65.1% in 2024) and 65.8% in Alberta-Peace River (64.9% in 2024). The mean for all the Canadian samples was 65.8% in 2025, higher than the 2024 mean (65.0%) and similar to the 5-year mean of 65.6% (Table 1 and Table 3).

The mean linoleic acid (C18:2) content in 2025 was 17.7%, lower than the 2024 mean (18.4%) and the 5-year mean of 18.2% (Figure 22 and Table 1). Since 2013, linoleic acid content has shown a continual decrease (Figure 22). Year-to-year changes in crop quality are usually related to environmental conditions and changes observed over more than ten years are usually related to genetic changes, suggesting the observed decrease in linoleic acid is likely related to plant genetics.

In 2025, the mean total polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) content was 26.5% for Ontario (26.0% in 2024), 27.1% for Manitoba (27.4% in 2024), 26.7% for Saskatchewan (27.5% in 2024) and 26.9% for Alberta-Peace River (28.1% in 2024). The Canadian mean was 26.8% (27.7% in 2024), which was lower than the 5-year mean of 27.1% (Table 1 and Table 3). In canola, PUFA content is directly related to alpha-linolenic acid (C18:3) and linoleic acid (C18:2) contents. Compared to 2024, there was a 0.2% decrease in alpha-linolenic acid content and a 0.6% decrease in linoleic acid content, which accounted for the 0.8% decrease in PUFA content in 2025.

The mean saturated fatty acid (SFA) content for all canola No. 1 samples in 2025 was 6.7%, similar to the 2024 mean (6.6%) and identical to the 5-year and 10-year means (Table 1 and Table 3, Figure 23). Since 2009, the mean SFA content has varied between 6.6% and 6.9% (Figure 23). In 2025, the mean SFA content for No. 1 canola was 6.7% for Saskatchewan and Manitoba, 6.6% for Alberta-Peace River and 6.9% for Ontario (Table 3).

The 2025 mean iodine value for all No. 1 canola samples (111.0 units) showed some recovery from the record low value in 2022 (109.5 units) (Figure 24), but was still lower than the long term mean iodine value observed prior to 2020. In 2025, the mean iodine value for No. 1 canola was 110.5 units for Ontario (109.4 units in 2024), 111.9 units for Manitoba (111.1 units in 2024), 111.3 units for Saskatchewan (111.5 units in 2024) and 111.8 units for Alberta-Peace River (113.0 units in 2024) (Table 3). In 2025, the iodine value for individual canola seed samples graded No. 1 ranged from 106.2 units to 119.7 units, while in 2024 the value ranged from 103.6 units to 119.9 units. Canola samples graded No. 2 had higher means for iodine value, linoleic acid content and alpha-linolenic acid content, and a lower mean for oleic acid content than No. 1 canola samples (Table 3).

Compared to last year, an increase was observed in oleic acid content (64.2% in 2025 versus 63.4% in 2024) and oil content (43.6% in 2025 versus 42.4% in 2024) (Table 1, Figure 21 and Figure 12). A decrease was observed in alpha-linolenic acid content (9.0% in 2025 versus 9.2% in 2024), linoleic acid content (17.7% in 2025 versus 18.4% in 2024) and iodine value (111.0 units in 2025 versus 111.9 units in 2024) (Table 1, Figure 20, Figure 22 and Figure 24). The reported increase in oil content was associated with a decrease in total unsaturation of the oil. Hot and dry growing conditions favour low oil content and a reduction in the degree of unsaturation, which is indicated by higher oleic acid content, lower linoleic acid content, lower alpha-linolenic acid content and a lower iodine value, as was observed in 2025. In July, when most of the crop was flowering, temperatures were 0° to 2°C cooler than normal, whereas August (post flowering and pod filling stages for most of the crop) was 0° to 2°C warmer than normal (Figure 3).

According to the 2025 report on grain varieties by insured acreage, 232 different canola and rapeseed varieties were grown in western Canada (231 in 2024). The top variety was L340PC in 2025 (28.3%) and 2024 (25.2%), followed by L356PC (8.3% in 2025 and 9.8% in 2024), L345PC (3.8% in 2025 and 6.5% in 2024), L358HPC (3.7% in 2025 and 3.3% in 2024) and L330PC (3.6% in 2025 and 0% in 2024). Although there was a slight shift in variety representation compared to last year, it is unlikely that genetic factors alone explain why the fatty acid composition did not fully reflect what was expected from the effects of the 2025 growing conditions.

The fatty acid composition of the 2025 harvest samples corresponded well with the fatty acid composition of the August to December 2025 export samples (Table 4).

Graph data

Erucic acid content (% in oil)

Year	Erucic acid content
2000	0.15
2001	0.11
2002	0.11
2003	0.13
2004	0.12
2005	0.06
2006	0.05
2007	0.04
2008	0.01
2009	0.01
2010	0.01
2011	0.01
2012	0.01
2013	0.01
2014	0.01
2015	0.01
2016	0.01
2017	0.01
2018	0.00
2019	0.00
2020	0.01
2021	0.01
2022	0.00
2023	0.02
2024	0.01
2025	0.00
5-year average (2020-2024)	0.01
10-year average (2015-2024)	0.01

Graph data

Alpha-linolenic acid content (% in oil)

Year	Alpha-linolenic acid content
2000	9.9
2001	9.3
2002	10.6
2003	8.4
2004	11.2
2005	11.0
2006	9.9
2007	9.8
2008	9.1
2009	10.0
2010	10.0
2011	9.9
2012	9.5
2013	9.1
2014	9.2
2015	9.7
2016	9.6
2017	9.5
2018	8.7
2019	10.0
2020	8.9
2021	8.6
2022	8.2
2023	9.1
2024	9.2
2025	9.0
5-year average (2020-2024)	8.8
10-year average (2015-2024)	9.2

Graph data

Oleic acid content (% in oil)

Year	Oleic acid content
2000	61.5
2001	61.9
2002	60.6
2003	63.2
2004	58.9
2005	59.8
2006	62.0
2007	61.5
2008	63.2
2009	62.2
2010	62.3
2011	62.0
2012	62.5
2013	63.4
2014	63.2
2015	62.6
2016	62.6
2017	62.9
2018	64.3
2019	62.4
2020	63.9
2021	64.2
2022	64.6
2023	64.1
2024	63.4
2025	64.2
5-year average (2020-2024)	64.0
10-year average (2015-2024)	63.5

Graph data

Linoleic acid content (% in oil)

Year	Linoleic acid content
2000	19.1
2001	19.1
2002	19.1
2003	18.5
2004	20.3
2005	19.7
2006	18.9
2007	19.3
2008	18.4
2009	18.8
2010	18.9
2011	19.1
2012	19.2
2013	18.5
2014	18.7
2015	18.8
2016	18.9
2017	18.9
2018	18.3
2019	18.7
2020	18.3
2021	18.3
2022	18.1
2023	17.9
2024	18.4
2025	17.7
5-year average (2020-2024)	18.2
10-year average (2015-2024)	18.4

Graph data

Saturated fatty acid content (% in oil)

Year	Saturated fatty acid content
2000	7.1
2001	7.2
2002	7.0
2003	7.3
2004	7.0
2005	7.0
2006	7.0
2007	7.0
2008	7.1
2009	6.8
2010	6.9
2011	6.8
2012	6.6
2013	6.8
2014	6.7
2015	6.7
2016	6.7
2017	6.5
2018	6.6
2019	6.6
2020	6.8
2021	6.6
2022	6.9
2023	6.6
2024	6.6
2025	6.7
5-year average (2020-2024)	6.7
10-year average (2015-2024)	6.7

Graph data

Iodine value (units in oil)

Year	Iodine value
2000	113.6
2001	112.4
2002	114.7
2003	110.1
2004	117.0
2005	116.0
2006	113.4
2007	113.3
2008	111.5
2009	113.7
2010	113.8
2011	113.6
2012	113.3
2013	111.7
2014	112.2
2015	113.1
2016	113.1
2017	113.1
2018	111.0
2019	113.7
2020	111.2
2021	110.9
2022	109.5
2023	111.3
2024	111.9
2025	111.0
5-year average (2020-2024)	110.9
10-year average (2015-2024)	111.9