AgCanada Expects 30% More Specialty Crops

VANCOUVER - Aug 6/04 - SNS -- Specialty crop production levels in Canada tare expected to be up this year, with Agriculture Canada forecasting a 30% in total output to 4.79 million metric tons (MT).

Total supply is expected to increase by only 21% to 5.29 million MT, because of lower carry-in stocks. Although exports and domestic use are forecast to increase due to the higher supply, strong demand and lower prices for most crops, carry-out stocks are also expected to increase.

"However, due to low world carry-in stocks, prices are expected to be very sensitive to any production problems," Agriculture Canada said. "The main factors to watch in Canada are precipitation and temperatures during the growing and harvest periods, and crop development. Other factors to watch are exchange rates, and growing conditions in the major producing countries, especially the US, Australia and India."

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