Canola has a significant presence on Margaret Rigetti’s farm in southern Saskatchewan.
Her grandfather was one of the pioneers of this vibrant yellow crop in the 1970s, and it has remained a fundamental part of her farm ever since.
“In much of Saskatchewan, canola is what keeps the agricultural economy alive,” Rigetti, a director at SaskOilseeds, shared during an interview at her farm near Moose Jaw.
“It hits home when people criticize canola, considering how integral it is to Canada’s identity, specifically for western Canada and right here on my land.”
In retaliation for Canada’s tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, steel, and aluminum, China imposed 100 percent tariffs on canola oil, canola meal, and peas from Canada.
Producers are also facing instability due to U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs, which include duties on aluminum, steel, and cars from Canada, with more potential taxes on the horizon.
However, products included in the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement, like agricultural and energy items, do not face U.S. tariffs. Canada has responded with its own countermeasures.
Rigetti has been tuning into the news more frequently lately to stay informed about ongoing events.
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“We’ve faced difficulties before, but never like being targeted between our two largest trading partners,” she reflects.
She retrieves a family history book, turning to a page that shows a combine harvesting canola. Below the image, it states, “The new crop that changes everything.”
The term “Canola” is a blend of “Canada” and “ola,” which means oil. Researchers in Saskatchewan and Manitoba created the crop in the 1970s to eliminate the problematic erucic acid found in its precursor, rapeseed.
Canola serves various purposes: cooking oil, high-protein feed for animals, and biodiesel. Its development has turned it into a lucrative crop for farmers, with more than half produced in Saskatchewan.
In Rigetti’s yard, large steel bins are being filled with dark brown canola seeds by her husband and son, ready to be taken to a grain terminal.
She mentions that her son will be planting his first canola field this year.
“It’s important to keep perspective and not alarm our children,” she emphasizes.
“I focus on what we can control—planting the crop, cultivating it to the best of our ability, managing finances, and taking care of our mental well-being.”
At a farm near Fillmore, southeast of Regina, producer Chris Procyk notes that history seems to be repeating itself.
“Once again, we find ourselves trapped in a trade dispute we didn’t instigate, and we are the ones left to face the repercussions,” said Procyk, who serves as vice-president of the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan.
He warns that if the U.S. imposes additional taxes on agricultural products, the situation could worsen. Canadian crops and potash flow to the U.S., while farm machinery is imported from there.
Procyk believes the federal government should step in to offer financial help or other forms of support to the farmers affected by these trade issues.
“There’s really no alternative. The entire farming sector is caught up in this trade conflict, and we can’t control how it unfolds,” he remarked.
Canadian farms have faced challenges from China before.
Back in 2019, China halted imports of Canadian canola from two companies due to contamination claims, which many believed to be a reaction to Canada detaining Meng Wanzhou, a Chinese executive. Around the same time, Canadians Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig were detained in China.
In 2021, Wanzhou and the two Canadians were returned to their respective countries, and subsequently, China lifted its canola ban the following year. However, Canada’s economy suffered an estimated loss of about $2 billion from the conflict.
“While farms can handle temporary setbacks,” Rigetti concludes, “prolonged issues can lead to serious concerns.”
© 2025 The Canadian Press
