Canola Fields Forever

This is the first post of a three-part series on the canola fields in Saskatchewan.

If you’ve ever driven through Saskatchewan in the summer, there’s a good chance you’ve seen an endless sea of bright yellow canola fields. It’s one of the most iconic sights in the province, and for anyone who grew up here, it’s a familiar scene. Seriously, if you drive just five minutes past Saskatoon, Saskatchewan’s biggest city, or Regina, its capital, you’ll immediately find kilometer after kilometer of canola fields stretching to the horizon. 

Photo credits: Mathilde Langevin on Unsplash

For those wondering where Saskatchewan is (and, let’s be honest, a lot of people probably are), it’s a prairie province in the middle of Canada, north of the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota, with Alberta to its west and Manitoba to its east. If Canada were a sandwich, Saskatchewan would be one of the fillings!

Photo credits: Wikipedia

Canada is a big deal in the canola world, as it is where the crop was developed in the 1970s. Canola thrives in the cool, dry climate of the Prairies, and Saskatchewan has the perfect soil for it. Today, canola makes up about 14% of Canada’s agricultural income. That’s a lot!

So, what’s all this canola used for? A lot of things. The seeds are crushed to make oil for cooking, baking, and frying, and it’s healthier than many other oils because it’s low in saturated fat. But canola is not just for cooking: The leftover meal after crushing is high in protein and used in livestock feed, fuels and even industrial products like lubricants. 

Of course, growing so much canola has its challenges. It needs a lot of fertilizer and pesticides, which can hurt the soil and water. Plus, planting so much of one crop can make it easier for pests and diseases to spread. Importantly, as canola fields spread throughout the Province, there is less space left for native species of plants and animals to exist. 

Farmers are working on solutions to make canola farming more sustainable. Crop rotation—switching up what’s planted in the fields—helps keep the soil healthy and cuts down on chemical use. Researchers are also trying to develop canola varieties that can resist pests and diseases better, which could mean fewer pesticides in the future.

Next time you’re driving through Saskatchewan and see those bright yellow fields, you’ll know they’re not just pretty. They’re part of a massive industry that’s feeding people, fueling cars, and keeping agriculture moving. But like everything, it’s important to find ways to do it sustainably.

Sources

• Canola uses. (n.d.). Learn Canola. https://learncanola.com/canola-info/uses/#:~:text=Canola%20is%20not%20only%20found,%2C%20cosmetics%2C%20toothpaste%20and%20sunscreen.

• Canola industry. (n.d.). Sask Canola. https://www.saskcanola.com/canola-industry

• Growing Canola. (n.d.). Learn Canola. https://learncanola.com/canola-info/growing/