* Total volume of 9,637 contracts was lowest in nearly eight weeks and down from trading activity on same date a year ago. * Crusher buying seen limited amid holidays, but crush margins have risen over past month. * Front-month canola on pace for 2011 loss of 10 percent, its first yearly decline in three years. * January canola futures lost $6.70 at $523.00 per tonne on volume of 758 contracts. * Most-active March lost $4.70 to $520.00 a tonne on volume of 6,839 contracts. * January-March spread traded 459 times, settling at a January premium of $3.00. * Chicago January soybeans lost 10-3/4 US cents to US$11.87-1/2 per bushel on profit-taking. * MATIF February rapeseed lost 0.3 percent. * The Canadian dollar was trading at $1.0211 against the US dollar, or 97.93 US cents, at 1:07 p.m. CST (1907 GMT), up from Wednesday's close at $1.0242 versus the US dollar, or 97.64 US cents. * US crude oil futures rose 0.3 percent to US$99.65 per barrel. * Dryness persists for Brazil, Argentina grains. * Sluggish exports may spur CBOT Jan soy deliveries.