Supporting Alberta’s Canola Industry – A Call to Action for Growers in January
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Alberta Canola Calling for Growers’ Support on Crucial January Vote
Alberta Canola has served the province’s canola farmers since the commission’s formation in 1989, growing and adapting to meet farmers’ evolving needs through research, advocacy, public engagement and extension.
Now, for the first time in over two decades, Alberta Canola is asking growers to approve an increase in the organization’s service charge from $1/tonne to $1.75/tonne. This decision, which growers will vote on at Alberta Canola’s Annual General Meeting this January, is essential to securing Alberta Canola’s financial future and sustaining its ability to support Alberta’s canola producers amid intensifying industry challenges.
Responding to Today’s Pressures
“Alberta Canola was built by farmers, for farmers, and that hasn’t changed in our 35 years,” says Karla Bergstrom, Executive Director of Alberta Canola. “What has changed is the world we operate within. Public research funding has drastically declined, regulatory pressures have grown, and consumers, many of whom are now generations removed from farming, are seeking increasing transparency in food production. These shifts mean Alberta Canola’s role has expanded significantly to address these challenges and advocate for growers’ needs.”
Over 90% of Alberta Canola’s operating revenue comes from its service charge, which has been set at $1 per tonne. Since the last service charge adjustment in 2003, operating costs have risen sharply, while Alberta’s canola production has seen a nearly 25% decline from its 2017 peak of 7 million tonnes. This production decline has led to revenue challenges, with Alberta Canola operating at a deficit in six of the last seven years. As Alberta Canola Board Chair Roger Chevraux, a canola grower from near Killam, Alberta, points out, Alberta Canola now faces a crucial choice: either secure additional funding to maintain services or make deep cuts.
“Alberta Canola operates on one of the smallest budgets among the three major crop commissions in Alberta,” says Chevraux. “To balance our budget would require a cut of 20% of our total budget. That could mean eliminating entire program areas, even though they are highly valued by growers. That’s why we’re bringing this decision to growers—this increase is essential to keep Alberta Canola operational.”
Over the past few years, the commission consistently connected with growers to share updates on its initiatives, celebrate wins, and gather insights to shape future direction. The financial challenges were openly discussed at the Grower Engagement Meetings (GEMs) in 2023, during the 2024 AGM, and through various articles in newsletters and on the website. Feedback received to date regarding the idea of a service charge increase has been overwhelmingly positive.
Delivering Tangible Value to Alberta’s Canola Farmers
Alberta Canola’s proposed increase would enable it to continue serving growers through four key areas:
Research Expansion: Increasing investments to address production challenges and drive sustainability.
Alberta Canola’s active pursuit of partnerships leverages every grower dollar invested. In 2023, Alberta Canola was able to capture nearly $7 in industry support for every grower dollar it committed to research, maximizing the impact of farmers’ contributions. These investments have directly contributed to solutions for key production challenges, such as disease control, drought resilience, and improved productivity.
“Our growers are facing more unpredictable weather, diseases like clubroot and verticillium stripe, and pressure to keep up with sustainability goals,” says Alan Hampton, a Drumheller-area farmer and chair of Alberta Canola’s research committee. “Grower-directed research is our most direct way to help growers meet these challenges. The increase we’re proposing would allow us to fund more research, right where and when farmers need it most.”
Advocacy: Strengthening Alberta Canola’s ability to influence policy and represent growers’ needs.
In recent months, Alberta Canola worked with other agricultural organizations to help secure a farmer designation for Class 1 truck drivers, advocated for policies that improved the rules for landowners and prioritized agricultural land in renewable energy projects, and fought to modify an underused housing tax that would have placed regulatory and financial burdens on Alberta farmers.
“Advocating for Alberta’s canola farmers means pushing policymakers for policies that reflect the realities of farming and protect our industry’s future,” says Wayne Schneider, Government and Industry Affairs Chair and Leduc-area farmer. “These efforts illustrate how advocacy strengthens Alberta’s canola sector.”
Grower Engagement and Extension: Expanding support, resources, and training to meet the changing needs of Alberta farmers.
“Our goal is to keep growers connected and equipped with the best information possible,” says Bergstrom. “From field days to workshops to facilitating the continuation of critical resources like Blue Book, we’re committed to providing Alberta’s canola farmers with the tools essential for success.”
Consumer Awareness: Continuing to raise public awareness and demand for canola.
Public awareness initiatives, such as the “Hello Canola!” campaign, have promoted canola’s value locally and nationally, building consumer appreciation and support for Alberta-grown canola.
“Our efforts to promote Alberta canola extend beyond the farm—they connect communities to the canola industry and build consumer trust to strengthen our markets,” Chevraux says.
“We’re deeply proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish on behalf of Alberta’s growers,” Chevraux adds. “We’re farmers working for farmers, and these wins underscore how important it is to have a strong organization representing us.”
Preparing for the January Vote
Alberta Canola encourages all eligible producers to participate in January’s service charge increase vote, whether in person or online at the January 22nd, 2025, Annual General Meeting.
“Voting ‘yes’ is an investment in Alberta’s canola industry and an investment in each farm family’s future,” Chevraux says. “Alberta Canola has always worked to serve and strengthen Alberta’s canola farmers, and now we need growers to stand behind us. Supporting this increase is essential for Alberta Canola to continue serving Alberta farmers in the years ahead.”
Visit albertacanola.com/agm to register for the AGM.