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September's Canola Quick Bytes Sponsor:
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Coalition Urges California to Support Domestic Biofuels
A coalition of biofuels groups, including the U.S. Canola Association, has raised concerns about recent changes to California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS). They warn that new rules could reduce the domestic supply of biomass-based diesel (BBD), increase reliance on fossil diesel, raise fuel costs, and slow down emission reductions.
BBD from canola and other feedstocks currently powers California’s heavy-duty fleet, cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 57% compared to petroleum diesel, while supporting rural economies and consumer affordability.
The coalition recommends:
- Sunsetting the outdated Alternative Diesel Fuel regulation to allow higher biodiesel blends.
- Updating land-use change data to reflect current sustainability improvements.
- Removing the feedstock cap on crop-based credits to ensure stable domestic supply.
The coalition emphasizes that BBD is a cost-effective and scalable solution for today’s transportation emissions, serving as a critical bridge to California’s clean energy future.
Read the letter: https://bit.ly/46aR17j
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USCA Joins Industry Groups in Supporting Dr. Julie Callahan’s Nomination as Chief Agricultural Negotiator
The USCA has joined other trade associations and industry groups in supporting the nomination of Dr. Julie Callahan as Chief Agricultural Negotiator at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.
In a letter to Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo and Ranking Member Ron Wyden, the coalition highlighted Dr. Callahan’s extensive experience overseeing agricultural trade and commodity policy since 2016, and her proven commitment to advancing the interests of U.S. agriculture in complex international negotiations.
The letter calls for swift confirmation of Dr. Callahan, emphasizing the critical need for strong leadership as the United States continues efforts to reduce trade barriers, secure reciprocal tariff agreements, and enhance the competitiveness of American agricultural products worldwide.
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USCA Signs on to Letter Supporting Rural Road Improvements
The USCA has joined a coalition of agriculture and rural organizations in signing a letter urging support for the Agricultural and Rural Road Improvement Program Act (H.R. 4585).
Introduced by Representatives Mike Bost and Josh Riley, the legislation seeks to improve rural roads and bridges—vital infrastructure for farmers and the businesses that serve them. The bill prioritizes $1.5 billion over five years in existing highway formula funds toward replacing or rehabilitating rural bridges to eliminate posted weight limits, providing or increasing first- and last-mile access to a farm, agricultural facility, or other site supporting the economy of a rural area, or improving highway safety all while maintaining these funds’ formula status and important flexibilities for states.
Read the letter: http://bit.ly/3HAxNPj
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Trump Administration Grappling with Farm Labor Policy
The Trump administration continues to send mixed messages on how it plans to address migrant farm labor, highlighting the ongoing conflict between immigration enforcement and the agricultural sector's labor needs. While maintaining a strict immigration agenda, the administration has acknowledged that many farms depend on immigrant workers who are in the country without legal status. Efforts to replace this workforce with domestic labor have largely fallen short. One proposal under discussion is a "touchback" approach, which would require certain workers to leave the United States and re-enter legally. The idea has faced internal resistance from officials who believe it could weaken the administration's broader immigration message. The administration has also considered expanding the H-2A visa program, which currently provides temporary, seasonal farm labor. This option is important to many growers, but does not address the full scope of current labor needs, and the program would need to be seriously reformed. No final policy has been announced, and the debate continues as officials try to balance enforcement goals with pressure from the farming industry.
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Ag Employers Win Court Case on H-2A Wages as H-2A Reform Supported by 84 House and Senate Lawmakers
In a case brought by the American Sugar Cane League, a judge ruled this week that the U.S. Department of Labor must scrap a 2023 rule that reclassified some farm occupations in the H-2A program, resulting in higher wage rates. As a result, the Labor Department will update the way it calculates the adverse effect wage rate used in the H-2A guest worker program and will go back to the methodology used in the 2010 H-2A rule, which requires use of the USDA’s Farm Labor Survey, not the Labor Department’s Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey. While that should result in improvements for ag employers, the USDA Farm Labor Survey is also being challenged in a separate lawsuit brought by the National Council of Agricultural Employers.
The court ruling this week comes as a bipartisan group of 84 House and Senate lawmakers was calling on the administration to roll back Biden-era changes to the H-2A visa program’s wage rules. They contend that the updated regulations have raised costs for farmers by expanding wage rates beyond traditional farm occupations and requiring employers to pay the highest wage for any task a worker performs, even if it is only a small part of their job. Lawmakers warn that these rules place unnecessary financial strain on agricultural producers and fail to reflect the true nature of farm labor.
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Ground-Breaking Study of Canola Meal Value in Beef Steer Finishing Diets
Researchers at South Dakota State University have confirmed in a study that canola meal provides a similar amount and profile of metabolizable protein to cattle as Dried Distiller’s Grains (DDG’s). This study disproved the long-held belief that DDG’s offer superior protein and amino acid profiles due to greater undegradable protein content.
“This unique finding challenges conventional wisdom and positions canola meal as a truly equivalent, highly effective, and often more accessible, protein source, allowing producers to confidently replace DDGS in finishing diets,” noted lead researcher Ana Clara Menezes, Assistant Professor of Animal Science at South Dakota State University.
The study, titled “Effects of substitution of DDGS with canola meal on nutrient digestibility, amino acid flow, and nitrogen balance in finishing beef steers”, was funded by the Northern Canola Growers Association.
A list of quantitative impacts from the study includes:
• Canola meal favors the production of propionate in the rumen (major energy substrate for cattle)
• Canola meal provides a strikingly similar amount and profile of metabolizable protein to cattle as DDGS
• Producers can confidently replace DDGS with canola meal in high-grain finishing diets
The findings will be presented at the International Symposium on Energy and Protein Metabolism (ISEP) in Rostock-Warnemünde, Germany, in September.
The results of this study will be submitted to the Journal of Animal Science, a prestigious international journal.
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AOCS Briefs Policymakers on Seed Oil Science
On August 14, leading experts in nutrition and lipid science from the American Oil Chemists’ Society (AOCS) provided a briefing to congressional and federal agency staff on the latest evidence regarding seed oils. The session covered what seed oils are, their role in a healthy diet, and the current research findings on inflammation, chronic disease, and cardiovascular health.
Watch the full recording here: https://bit.ly/4mF03Q9
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Medically Reviewed: What Science Really Says About Seed Oils and Inflammation
A recent HealthCentral article (updated Aug. 4, 2025), written by Beth Krietsch and medically reviewed by Jane Ujoatu, Dr.P.H., finds little evidence that seed oils cause inflammation or worsen chronic conditions.
Experts note that seed oils are rich in heart-healthy fats and can be part of a balanced diet. As Dr. Nate Wood of Yale explains, “Seed oils have been studied for a long time, and they do not pose a risk to human health.”
Read the article: https://bit.ly/3UzgX6k
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Scientific Appraisal of MAHA Report on Child Health
Dr. Mark Kern emphasizes that while improving child health is a commendable goal, government actions, such as the “Make Our Children Healthy Again” strategy or revisions to the Dietary Guidelines, should be guided by rigorous scientific evidence. He cautions against rushed, sweeping policy changes based on incomplete data, noting that overly restrictive guidance could limit consumer choice without effectively addressing health issues. Instead, Kern advocates for long-term investment in high-quality research, evidence-based policies, and educational approaches that teach children and caregivers about balanced eating, portion control, physical activity, and mindful lifestyle behaviors, while allowing flexibility and enjoyment in food choices.
Read the scientific appraisal here: https://bit.ly/4lSG9Ql
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Dr. David Kessler Urges FDA to Revoke GRAS Status for Refined Carbohydrates Over Health Risks
Dr. David A. Kessler, former U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner, submitted a citizen petition on August 6, 2025, urging the FDA to revoke the Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) status of certain processed refined carbohydrates used in industrial food processing. The petition highlights the significant health risks associated with these ingredients, including obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, and calls for regulatory action to protect public health.
The FDA is required to respond to the petition within 180 days.
For more detailed information, you can access the full petition here: https://bit.ly/3JAq6sZ
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Company Bets on Beef Tallow Amid Online Misinformation on Seed Oils
Real Good Foods is transitioning away from seed oils, replacing its frozen meal portfolio with beef tallow. The change began with the introduction of a new line of seed oil-free breaded chicken. While seed oils, such as canola, sunflower, and soybean, remain a topic of controversy online, nutrition research continues to support their health benefits. The switch to beef tallow presents supply chain challenges amid a U.S. cattle shortage, and the company has not yet set a timeline for completing the transition.
Read the FoodDive article here: https://bit.ly/4p2rt40
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Upcoming Industry Meetings:
Idaho–Oregon Grain & Oilseed Convention
November 18–20, 2025 | Sun Valley, Idaho
The inaugural Idaho–Oregon Grain & Oilseed Convention will bring together growers and agricultural leaders to share strategies, build community, and champion growth in the face of adversity. Together, we’ll cultivate resilience, adapt to challenges, and sow the seeds of a thriving future.
Early bird registration ends September 1!
Visit the event website to register:
https://tmnevents.swoogo.com/igoc2025/home
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Canola & Pulse Workshop
December 1, 2025 | Great Falls, MT
The Pacific Northwest Canola Association (PNWCA) and the Northern Pulse Growers Association will co-host the Canola & Pulse Workshop: “Rotation Matters – Growing Together” on December 1, 2025, in Great Falls, MT. This workshop will highlight the benefits of crop rotation, research updates, and practical insights for growers.
Register here: https://www.northernpulse.com/events/npga-convention/
Montana Grain Growers Convention
December 2-3, 2025 | Great Falls, MT
Immediately following, the Montana Grain Growers Convention will take place on December 2–3, 2025, also in Great Falls. PNWCA will be participating with an exhibitor booth. Please stop by and see us!
Learn more: https://www.mgga.org/events/convention/
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Seed Oil Industry Pushes Back Against Growing Wave of Misinformation
In her August 4, 2025 piece “It’s a Weird Time to Be a Seed Oil Lobbyist,” Sylvie McNamara examines how the seed oil industry is navigating a wave of misinformation driven by Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Make America Healthy Again movement, despite decades of peer-reviewed research demonstrating that seed oils are safe, and in many cases healthier than animal fats, the narrative that they are harmful has gained traction among wellness influencers, political figures, and some corporations now reformulating products.
Industry advocates such as Devin Mogler, president and CEO of the National Oilseed Processors Association, and Tom Hance, president of the U.S. Canola Association, are working to counter these claims through policy engagement, corporate outreach, and public education. As Hance cautions, misinformation online can be particularly damaging: “It plants that seed—for lack of a better word—that there’s a negative aspect to these vegetable oils.”
Read the Washingtonian article here: https://bit.ly/4oi75LA
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Winter Canola Sees Renewed Interest Driven by Renewable Fuels
Demand for renewable fuels is sparking a resurgence of interest in winter canola across the Southern Plains. Attendance at the recent Great Plains Canola Association regional meeting in Enid, Oklahoma, more than doubled compared to last year, drawing around 100 growers and industry experts.
The program featured grower perspectives from a panel that included Karen Eifert-Jones, U.S. Canola Association board member representing the Great Plains region. Panelists discussed the challenges and rewards of incorporating canola into rotations, highlighting its benefits in weed control, profit potential, and positive impact on subsequent crops.
Discussions also highlighted canola’s value as a rotational crop, its potential profitability compared to wheat, and new opportunities created by Scoular’s oilseed crush plant in Goodland, Kansas. With more than 15 local delivery points now available in Kansas and Oklahoma, the company hopes to see acreage rebound to 400,000 acres.
Researchers pointed to improved genetics, hybrid varieties on the horizon, and strong demand from the renewable fuels sector, all of which are fueling optimism for the crop’s future.
A follow-up Great Plains Canola Association regional meeting will be held on August 26 in Hutchinson, Kansas.
Read the article from Farm Talk here: http://bit.ly/4lSw45H
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Clean Fuels Calls on EPA to Sustain Higher Biofuel Volumes
Clean Fuels Alliance America urged EPA to finalize its proposed increase in biomass-based diesel and advanced biofuel volumes to 5.61 billion gallons in 2026, highlighting strong domestic production capacity and the vital role of biofuels in supporting farmers, rural economies, and U.S. energy security.
Read more from Clean Fuels Alliance America: https://bit.ly/47jC7Nc
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Canola Council of Canada Shifts Strategy Toward Market Growth and Innovation
The Canola Council of Canada (CCC) has launched its new five-year roadmap, Canola Forward: A Strategic Framework for 2025–2030, signaling a major shift in priorities. The plan emphasizes innovation, market access, and value optimization for Canadian canola, including its expanding role in renewable fuel.
As part of the restructuring, the CCC announced it will no longer maintain a field-based agronomy team, instead focusing on identifying production risks and innovations through a re-focused agronomy function. Leaders say the framework is designed to “future-proof the industry” and strengthen Canadian canola’s global leadership in food, feed, and fuel.
Read the SeedWorld article: https://bit.ly/4mVUU6p
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China Looks to Reopen Australian Canola Trade Amid Canada Tensions
China is moving to resume canola (rapeseed) imports from Australia for the first time since 2020, as relations with top supplier Canada sour. The state-owned trader Cofco is reportedly negotiating prices and trial shipments from Australia’s upcoming crop. The move follows Beijing’s temporary 75.8% duty on Canadian canola, amid anti-dumping investigations and earlier trade disputes. While phytosanitary approvals are still pending, discussions are ongoing, with Australia noting that details have not yet been finalized. Last year, China imported over 6 million tons of rapeseed, almost entirely from Canada.
Read the article from Farm Progress: https://bit.ly/4oS10G1
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USCA works to support and advance U.S. canola production, marketing, processing, and use through government and industry relations. Since its establishment in 1989, the association has helped domestic canola acreage grow from virtually zero to about 2 million. To learn more about USCA, go to: www.UScanola.com
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