Mustard acres expected to soften slightly in 2015

CNS Canada -- Canadian mustard seeds could be vying for attention this spring from some of their more lucrative rivals, the chairman of the Saskatchewan Mustard Seed Development Commission predicts. "I would say mustard acres would be down a little bit from the previous year just based on the profit potential for other crops," said[...]

Peas seen gaining strength in second half of export year

CNS Canada -- Prices for Canadian green and yellow peas stand to increase as the 2014-15 export year rolls along, in part due to weather damage from excess moisture as well as continued demand from Asia, according to an industry-watcher. “I’m more optimistic for yellow peas just because we can really see strong demand later[...]


Chickpeas face pressure from cheap Russian exports

CNS Canada -- Cheap Russian exports of chickpeas are driving down the cost of the commodity worldwide, though one Canadian marketer says a new type of seed is helping domestic growers make financial inroads. "We're still facing stiff competition from other producing countries, primarily B90 (seeds) out of Russia," said Colin Young, owner of Midwest[...]

Drop in oil values a double-edged sword for Canadian ag

CNS Canada -- As oil prices plunge across North America, the impact on Canadian farmers is starting to be felt in several conflicting, but noticeable ways, according to Prairie farm leaders and market-watchers. As of Friday afternoon the price of oil had fallen to just above C$66 a barrel, with some analysts predicting it would[...]


Better-than-expected lentil crop faces market volatility

CNS Canada -- Despite a summer of excess moisture across much of the Prairies, lentils fared better than earlier expectations, according to Bobby Leavins, operations manager for Rayglen Commodities in Saskatoon. However, the crop's grade spread is still very wide and prices are expected to be wide-ranging over the winter. "With all the moisture a[...]

Peas hold their own after large exports to India

Commodity News Service Canada -- Despite some concerns over quality, Canadian peas are holding their own on the international market, according to an industry watcher. “I would think there’s going to be pretty good prices for peas coming down the pike. I think it will be pretty good. There’s been a very aggressive export program[...]


Lentil prices rise with Prairie rains, Asian demand

CNS Canada -- A lentil watcher says Canadian prices for the crop are surging higher right now, in response to frequent Prairie rains and international demand. "It's more than your usual slow rally, it (the market) spiked higher; especially the greens, which are shooting up right now," said Chuck Penner of LeftField Commodity Research in[...]

Crop damage varies across Prairies

CNS Canada -- Last week's Prairie frost seems to have bitten Alberta crops the hardest, but all across Western Canada, crop experts say wet, cold weather poses challenges to late-stage development. In Alberta, a hard frost came the night of Sept. 10 and morning of Sept. 11. "The cereals and canola that were least ripe,[...]


Pea prices steady but questions loom over water damage

CNS Canada -- Questions over quality could be the biggest factor facing pea farmers in Western Canada this year, as a wet summer has caused sprouting, staining and bleaching in crops near the Manitoba/Saskatchewan border. "It was the rain after seeding that hurt us," said Shannon Friesen, a regional crop specialist with the Saskatchewan government[...]

Malt barley prospects decline with excess moisture

CNS Canada -- It looks like this year's Canadian malt barley crop could be a lot smaller than originally expected. Canada's 2014-15 barley production was estimated at 7.2 million tonnes by Statistics Canada. This compares to last year's total of 10.2 million tonnes. That estimate, however, was before persistent rains swept across the Prairies during[...]