Canola Fields

By Melanie Brooks

Driving up to The County on Friday I happened upon a gigantic field of yellow canola plants on Route 1 between Presque Isle and Caribou. Against the gray sky it was eye popping. There is a solid market for canola oil for cooking as people are looking for healthier eating habits. The seed meal is sold as a protein supplement for livestock. It’s also a source of renewable energy as it’s one of several vegetable oils that may be processed into biodiesel.

While the northern plains of North Dakota and Minnesota account for over 90% of the 1 million canola acres in the U.S., farmers in northern Maine are seeing it as way to diversify. For more information visit the U.S. Canola Association website.