Not all trade issues are worth the worry—in our complex global system of international trade, the odd snag is to be expected. But when the trade at stake is worth billions of dollars to Canadian canola growers, let the fretting begin.

It’s no secret that farming can be extremely stressful. Weather is a constant threat—from planting conditions in spring, to the amount and timeliness of rain during the season, and finally the risk of adverse conditions during harvest. Markets are also a source of stress for farmers and, like the weather, we have no control over what prices will do. But there are actions that growers can take to help reduce their vulnerability to volatile markets and, in the process, their anxiety over price volatility.