Accomplishments

We continually strive to improve canola insurance policies in the Northwest U.S.  Recent changes include:

• Changing the closing date of winter canola to match that of winter wheat

• 2025 Date Changes due to Planting Date Review in 2024

  • Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Kootenai, Latah/ID; Spokane/WA - Spring FPD changed from to 5/10 to 5/20

  • Morrow, Umatilla/OR; Walla Walla/WA - Irrigated Spring FPD changed from 3/15 to 4/1

  • Union, OR - Irrigated Spring FPD changed from 4/30 to 5/5

  • Nez Perce/ID Map Area 2 - Non-Irrigated Spring FPD changed from 5/10 to 5/20

We submitted a letter earlier this year to USDA-RMA requesting the following changes: 

• Add a winter cover endorsement to canola

• Separate Enterprise Units by type -Fall and Spring

Workshops & Conferences

• PNWCA Annual Meeting, Moscow, ID (Feb 2026)
• PNDSA Cropping Systems Conference, Kennewick, WA (Jan. 2026)
• PNWCA/NPGA Canola & Pulse Workshop, Great Falls, MT (Dec. 2025)
• ID-OR Grain & Oilseed Convention, Sun Valley, ID (Nov. 2025)
• PNWCA Canola Workshop, Moscow, ID (Jan. 2023-2025)

Field Tours

• Spring and winter canola tours are held throughout the PNW from May-Aug. Check our website calendar for events

Shop Talks

• Shop Talks are held during the fall and winter months to share experiences and lessons learned from the season. Contact us if you would like to host one - all that's needed is a shop and chairs!  We have also meet in local coffee shops, community centers, and restaurants. 

A ballot proposing a checkoff for canola, flaxseed, mustard, safflower, soybeans, and sunflower crops narrowly missed passing in 2021.  A referendum was initiated again in August 2025 for only canola and did not pass. 

When a checkoff proposal is passed, a grower-led Advisory Committee advises the Montana Department of Agriculture (MDA) on how to invest the funds for research, market development, and education.  The funds are generated from a small assessment from every pound of the designated oilseed commodities sold in MT. 

Oilseed commissions are in place in Idaho and Washington state, and have provided much-needed funding for a wide range of research projects in ID, OR, and WA for more than 20 years. 

Several producer board members and the executive director make legislative visits in Washington D.C. to underscore continued national funding for canola research, renewable fuel tax credits, and other canola-centric issues. Directors also contact their state’s U.S. Congress members, Governor, and Director of Agriculture urging them to include canola in the Market Facilitation Program.

The PNWCA has also submitted and/or signed on to letters to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, the USDA, ranking members of Congress, and others on matters such as:

• Stressing the importance of science-based decision making to the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission.
• Urging the USDA to provide assistance through WHIP+ or other mechanisms to growers suffering significant quality loss resulting from excessive moisture in the northern tier states.
• Renewing biodiesel tax credits, including those for biodiesel blenders. Canola can be a feedstock for biodiesel.

Future efforts will include establishing and improving winter and spring canola insurance policies and assisting with crop protection product registration.

• U.S. Canola Association Promote Canola Acres program has awarded annual grants to the PNWCA from 2018-25 ranging from $5,000-12,500 to fund education, website development, tours, and other means for promoting canola and the Pacific Northwest Canola Association.
• The Washington State Soil Health Committee awarded a $5,000 grant that funded our video "Building Soil Health for Canola Production."
• The Washington Oilseed Commission became a Partner industry member in September 2025. We will receive a portion of the prior year checkoff funds which will be used primarily for education and outreach.