April 10, 2009
Canada's 2009 rapeseed acreage expected to increase
Canada, the world's biggest exporter of rapeseed, is expected to grow the crop on 17 million acres in 2009, up from 16 million acres last year, a senior Canola Council of Canada official said Thursday (Apr 9).
The rise in acreage is a result of rapeseed having become more profitable than wheat, said Joanne Buth, chairwoman of the council, in a conference held by the China National Grain and Oils Information Center.
Rapeseed is the second-largest crop grown in Canada after wheat, and the two crops compete with each other for acreage.
Canada aims to produce 15 million tonnes of rapeseed in 2015, compared with 9.1 million tonnes in 2006, said Buth.
It is also aiming to export 7.5 million tonnes of canola seed in 2015, versus 5.2 million tonnes in 2006, she added.
