Warm temperatures helped keep crop conditions well above average in Alberta during the week ended July 9, although heat stress could become a concern without cooler temperatures and more precipitation in the weeks ahead, according to the latest provincial crop report.
Crops throughout Alberta stood at 75 per cent good to excellent as of July 2, according to the latest crop report from the provincial agriculture department. That was eight points above the five-year average despite cooler than normal temperatures and delayed crop development due to excessive rain for most of the province so far this year.
Although crop conditions in Saskatchewan were good, the province’s latest crop report said development continued to fall behind normal for this time of year. Saskatchewan Agriculture pointed to the cooler temperatures and wet conditions as why development has been slower this year.
Cash wheat prices across the Canadian Prairies were mostly to the downside for the week ended June 27, as the United States wheat complex was steady to lower. That resulted in losses for Canada Prairie Red Spring Wheat, and Canadian Western Amber Durum, while Canadian Western Red Spring Wheat was mixed.
Although canola futures on the International Exchange have lost a fair bit of value over the last several weeks, there is a case to be made that the Canadian oilseed is rangebound.
Klassen estimated that six million acres of durum wheat were seeded this year across Canada with expected production at approximately 7.5 million tonnes. In Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s (AAFC) monthly principal field crops outlook released on June 20, the agency estimated 6.343 million acres with production at 5.655 million tonnes. Statistics Canada (StatCan) will release their latest acreage estimates on June 27.
Canola across most of the Prairies appeared to be in good shape during the second last week of June, with very little prospect of a major rally according to a trader.