Quality of Canadian canola 2023

This report presents harvest quality data for eastern and western canola grown in 2023. Canola samples were submitted to the Canadian Grain Commission’s Harvest Sample Program by producers and grain companies. Quality data is compiled from the results of analytical tests performed in the Grain Research Laboratory and will be updated as more samples are received.

Data as of November 29, 2023.

Summary statistics by grade and by province

  • Results are unlikely to represent samples harvested within 2 weeks of the date of this report
  • The number of samples may not reflect actual production distributions across grades

Oil content

Table 1  Oil contentFootnote 1 (%) of Canadian canola (Brassica napus) from the 2023 harvest as of November 29, 2023
Location Number of samples Mean Standard deviation Minimum Maximum
Canola, No. 1 Canada
Prince Edward Island 1 43.3 NS Footnote 2 43.3 43.3
Nova Scotia 1 42.5 NS 42.5 42.5
Quebec 14 43.5 1.7 41.0 46.3
Ontario 28 44.1 1.8 38.5 47.2
Eastern Canada 44 43.8 1.8 38.5 47.2
Manitoba 418 43.2 1.8 37.4 49.1
Saskatchewan 792 43.3 2.5 35.6 49.3
Alberta and B.C. 635 44.3 2.5 35.9 52.3
Western Canada 1845 43.6 2.4 35.6 52.3
Canola, No. 2 Canada
Prince Edward Island 1 45.0 NS 45.0 45.0
Quebec 2 41.2 0.6 40.7 41.6
Eastern Canada 3 42.4 2.3 40.7 45.0
Manitoba 12 41.0 1.7 37.4 43.2
Saskatchewan 6 43.8 2.3 40.2 46.2
Alberta and B.C. 38 43.7 1.9 39.3 46.8
Western Canada 56 43.1 2.2 37.4 46.8
Canola, No. 3 Canada
Manitoba 1 40.5 NS 40.5 40.5
Saskatchewan 4 38.6 6.3 33.0 44.8
Alberta and B.C. 7 42.3 2.4 40.0 46.1
Western Canada 12 40.9 4.1 33.0 46.1
Sample Canada
Manitoba 2 45.3 0.6 44.8 45.7
Saskatchewan 1 43.5 NS 43.5 43.5
Alberta and B.C. 2 44.4 1.1 43.6 45.2
Western Canada 5 44.6 1.0 43.5 45.7
All grades
Prince Edward Island 2 44.2 1.2 43.3 45.0
Nova Scotia 1 42.5 NS 42.5 42.5
Quebec 16 43.2 1.7 40.7 46.3
Ontario 28 44.1 1.8 38.5 47.2
Eastern Canada 47 43.7 1.8 38.5 47.2
Manitoba 433 43.1 1.8 37.4 49.1
Saskatchewan 803 43.3 2.6 33.0 49.3
Alberta and B.C. 682 44.2 2.5 35.9 52.3
Western Canada 1918 43.6 2.4 33.0 52.3

Protein content

Table 2  Protein contentFootnote 3 (%) of Canadian canola (Brassica napus) from the 2023 harvest as of November 29, 2023
Location Number of samples Mean Standard deviation Minimum Maximum
Canola, No. 1 Canada
Prince Edward Island 1 22.4 NS 22.4 22.4
Nova Scotia 1 22.3 NS 22.3 22.3
Quebec 14 21.7 1.1 20.0 23.6
Ontario 28 20.4 1.5 17.8 24.5
Eastern Canada 44 20.9 1.5 17.8 24.5
Manitoba 418 21.8 1.6 17.4 26.7
Saskatchewan 792 22.0 2.3 15.7 29.6
Alberta and B.C. 635 21.2 2.4 15.5 29.2
Western Canada 1845 21.7 2.2 15.5 29.6
Canola, No. 2 Canada
Prince Edward Island 1 21.1 NS 21.1 21.1
Quebec 2 22.1 0.4 21.8 22.3
Eastern Canada 3 21.7 0.6 21.1 22.3
Manitoba 12 23.6 1.3 21.6 25.5
Saskatchewan 6 21.6 2.0 19.0 24.5
Alberta and B.C. 38 21.7 1.4 19.3 25.4
Western Canada 56 22.1 1.7 19.0 25.5
Canola, No. 3 Canada
Manitoba 1 24.4 NS 24.4 24.4
Saskatchewan 4 25.7 3.3 21.8 28.5
Alberta and B.C. 7 22.1 1.2 20.4 24.0
Western Canada 12 23.5 2.6 20.4 28.5
Sample Canada
Manitoba 2 20.3 0.1 20.2 20.4
Saskatchewan 1 20.7 NS 20.7 20.7
Alberta and B.C. 2 19.5 0.5 19.1 19.8
Western Canada 5 20.0 0.6 19.1 20.7
All grades
Prince Edward Island 2 21.8 0.9 21.1 22.4
Nova Scotia 1 22.3 NS 22.3 22.3
Quebec 16 21.8 1.1 20.0 23.6
Ontario 28 20.4 1.5 17.8 24.5
Eastern Canada 47 21.0 1.5 17.8 24.5
Manitoba 433 21.8 1.6 17.4 26.7
Saskatchewan 803 22.0 2.3 15.7 29.6
Alberta and B.C. 682 21.2 2.3 15.5 29.2
Western Canada 1918 21.7 2.2 15.5 29.6

Chlorophyll content

Table 3  Chlorophyll contentFootnote 4 (mg/kg) of Canadian canola (Brassica napus) from the 2023 harvest as of November 29, 2023
Location Number of samples Mean Standard deviation Minimum Maximum
Canola, No. 1 Canada
Prince Edward Island 1 3.9 NS 3.9 3.9
Nova Scotia 1 3.3 NS 3.3 3.3
Quebec 14 4.8 2.5 0.0 10.6
Ontario 28 5.6 1.9 1.8 9.2
Eastern Canada 44 5.3 2.1 0.0 10.6
Manitoba 418 7.6 4.1 0.0 29.6
Saskatchewan 792 7.3 3.8 0.0 29.0
Alberta and B.C. 635 11.4 7.6 0.5 55.9
Western Canada 1845 8.8 5.8 0.0 55.9
Canola, No. 2 Canada
Prince Edward Island 1 2.5 NS 2.5 2.5
Quebec 2 2.6 0.6 2.2 3.0
Eastern Canada 3 2.6 0.4 2.2 3.0
Manitoba 12 8.5 6.1 0.3 22.6
Saskatchewan 6 13.8 5.5 7.9 21.3
Alberta and B.C. 38 32.1 11.7 7.0 64.4
Western Canada 56 25.1 14.5 0.3 64.4
Canola, No. 3 Canada
Manitoba 1 25.3 NS 25.3 25.3
Saskatchewan 4 43.3 40.2 6.6 80.3
Alberta and B.C. 7 53.7 11.1 36.1 64.9
Western Canada 12 47.9 24.1 6.6 80.3
Sample Canada
Manitoba 2 8.6 3.9 5.8 11.3
Saskatchewan 1 23.3 NS 23.3 23.3
Alberta and B.C. 2 13.7 7.3 8.5 18.8
Western Canada 5 13.5 7.3 5.8 23.3
All grades
Prince Edward Island 2 3.2 1.0 2.5 3.9
Nova Scotia 1 3.3 NS 3.3 3.3
Quebec 16 4.5 2.4 0.0 10.6
Ontario 28 5.6 1.9 1.8 9.2
Eastern Canada 47 5.1 2.1 0.0 10.6
Manitoba 433 7.7 4.2 0.0 29.6
Saskatchewan 803 7.6 5.3 0.0 80.3
Alberta and B.C. 682 13.0 10.1 0.5 64.9
Western Canada 1918 9.5 7.6 0.0 80.3

Glucosinolate content

Table 4  Total glucosinolate contentFootnote 5 (µmol/g) of Canadian canola (Brassica napus) from the 2023 harvest as of November 29, 2023
Location Number of samples Mean Standard deviation Minimum Maximum
Canola, No. 1 Canada
Prince Edward Island 1 5.1 NS 5.1 5.1
Nova Scotia 1 2.5 NS 2.5 2.5
Quebec 14 4.7 2.4 2.2 10.8
Ontario 28 7.1 2.9 3.0 16.5
Eastern Canada 44 6.2 2.9 2.2 16.5
Manitoba 418 7.1 2.3 0.9 15.4
Saskatchewan 792 8.1 3.1 2.0 27.1
Alberta and B.C. 635 7.9 3.4 1.5 22.0
Western Canada 1845 7.8 3.1 0.9 27.1
Canola, No. 2 Canada
Prince Edward Island 1 3.0 NS 3.0 3.0
Quebec 2 6.8 1.3 5.9 7.7
Eastern Canada 3 5.5 2.4 3.0 7.7
Manitoba 12 9.4 3.5 4.9 17.8
Saskatchewan 6 5.9 1.3 4.5 8.0
Alberta and B.C. 38 7.7 2.4 3.5 14.7
Western Canada 56 7.8 2.7 3.5 17.8
Canola, No. 3 Canada
Manitoba 1 10.2 NS 10.2 10.2
Saskatchewan 4 20.5 17.2 4.2 36.0
Alberta and B.C. 7 7.8 1.1 5.9 9.2
Western Canada 12 12.2 10.9 4.2 36.0
Sample Canada
Manitoba 2 3.7 0.4 3.4 4.0
Saskatchewan 1 7.9 NS 7.9 7.9
Alberta and B.C. 2 7.4 1.6 6.3 8.5
Western Canada 5 6.0 2.3 3.4 8.5
All grades
Prince Edward Island 2 4.1 1.5 3.0 5.1
Nova Scotia 1 2.5 NS 2.5 2.5
Quebec 16 5.0 2.4 2.2 10.8
Ontario 28 7.1 2.9 3.0 16.5
Eastern Canada 47 6.2 2.9 2.2 16.5
Manitoba 433 7.1 2.4 0.9 17.8
Saskatchewan 803 8.1 3.4 2.0 36.0
Alberta and B.C. 682 7.9 3.3 1.5 22.0
Western Canada 1918 7.8 3.2 0.9 36.0

Iodine value

Table 5  Iodine valuesFootnote 6 (units) of Canadian canola (Brassica napus) from the 2023 harvest as of November 29, 2023
Location Number of samples Mean Standard deviation Minimum Maximum
Canola, No. 1 Canada
Prince Edward Island 1 116.7 NS 116.7 116.7
Nova Scotia 1 111.5 NS 111.5 111.5
Quebec 14 113.1 2.0 108.8 116.0
Ontario 30 111.3 1.9 108.3 116.0
Eastern Canada 46 112.0 2.1 108.3 116.7
Manitoba 382 111.4 2.4 103.2 117.9
Saskatchewan 725 111.5 2.6 103.5 118.7
Alberta and B.C. 630 112.7 2.3 105.8 119.8
Western Canada 1737 111.9 2.5 103.2 119.8
Canola, No. 2 Canada
Prince Edward Island 1 113.1 NS 113.1 113.1
Quebec 2 114.0 2.5 112.2 115.7
Eastern Canada 3 113.7 1.8 112.2 115.7
Manitoba 12 113.0 2.1 108.7 115.7
Saskatchewan 7 112.1 4.3 102.7 115.5
Alberta and B.C. 40 113.8 1.8 110.1 117.9
Western Canada 59 113.4 2.3 102.7 117.9
Canola, No. 3 Canada
Manitoba 1 114.6 NS 114.6 114.6
Saskatchewan 4 114.4 3.0 110.1 116.6
Alberta and B.C. 6 117.2 2.1 113.3 119.5
Western Canada 11 116.0 2.7 110.1 119.5
Sample Canada
Manitoba 2 113.2 0.8 112.6 113.8
Saskatchewan 1 103.7 NS 103.7 103.7
Alberta and B.C. 2 112.3 2.5 110.5 114.0
Western Canada 5 110.9 4.3 103.7 114.0
All grades
Prince Edward Island 2 114.9 2.5 113.1 116.7
Nova Scotia 1 111.5 NS 111.5 111.5
Quebec 16 113.2 2.0 108.8 116.0
Ontario 30 111.3 1.9 108.3 116.0
Eastern Canada 49 112.1 2.1 108.3 116.7
Manitoba 397 111.4 2.4 103.2 117.9
Saskatchewan 737 111.5 2.6 102.7 118.7
Alberta and B.C. 678 112.8 2.4 105.8 119.8
Western Canada 1812 112.0 2.6 102.7 119.8
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