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Posted: April 09, 2009
Saskatchewan Canola Industry Leading Agriculture
Economic Activity
Regina... Canola in Saskatchewan delivers $5
billion in overall economic impact and generates thousand of jobs
in the province. The Saskatchewan Canola Development Commission
(SaskCanola) and the Canola Council of Canada (CCC) brought the good
news to the Legislature today.
"With $ 2 billion in farm cash receipts
to more than 25,000 registered Saskatchewan canola producers in
2008 and new processing and research and development facilities
scheduled to come on stream by 2010, the canola industry is vibrant
and is poised to lead Saskatchewan's agricultural activity,"
Catherine Folkersen, Executive Director of the Saskatchewan Canola
Development Commission, stated.
"Saskatchewan is North America's largest
canola producer. Last year a new record of 7.7 million acres were
seeded. These acres have produced tremendous financial returns
to our farmers, their communities and our economy," Folkersen
said.
Increasing canola production has not only attracted
new processing businesses, but has allowed existing processing
operations to expand. By 2010, four major crushing facilities
will be operating in Saskatchewan to service the demand for canola
world wide and two new specialized protein processing facilities
will be providing specialized products to a growing export market.
In addition, research and development companies
are relocating and centralizing their operations in Saskatchewan;
expanding research capabilities for crop science that will benefit
and enhance canola farming opportunities and business.
Spurring production is an extensive export market
place for Saskatchewan and Canadian canola, which has also set
new records.
"Within the first six months of the 2008-2009
crop year, the CCC reported sales of 3.55 tonnes of canola, an
estimated 800,000 tonnes ahead of sales from the previous year.
China is the main difference, having already imported more than
one million tonnes this current year," Dave Hickling, Vice-President
Canola Utilization for CCC, stated.
"The quality and quantity of the 2008 the
Saskatchewan and Canadian canola crop were impressive. Total Canadian
production was 12.64 million tonnes, with an average yield of
34.7 bushels per acre. The average oil content of the canola seed
was a near record high of 44.3 percent," Hickling said.
Canola meal exports have also risen, especially
to California which has become a major importer of canola meal
for its dairy industry. The specific health and nutrition qualities
that canola oil has are exciting and its use is gaining significant
market share in the U.S. and Canada.
"The outlook for the Saskatchewan canola
industry on all fronts is dynamic. We are proud to be a part of
a thriving Canadian agriculture success story," Folkersen
concluded.
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