More Canadian Special Crops

VANCOUVER - Apr 27/07 - SNS -- Special crop seeded area in Canada will be up around 4% this year if growers follow through on their seeding intentions, observes Agriculture Canada.

In a regular review of the special crop sector, Stan Skrypetz, an agriculture economists with the market analysis branch in Winnipeg, observed higher areas for dry peas, chickpeas, mustard seed and canary seed are partly offset by lower areas for lentils, dry beans and buckwheat. The sunflower seed area is expected to be the same as in 2006-07.

"The actual seeded areas may differ from the intentions due to changes in the market outlook and expected prices, producer reaction to the Statistics Canada seeding intentions report and soil moisture conditions at the time of seeding. To date, only a small amount of seeding has been completed."

He indicated trend yields will likely prevail across much of western Canada, though "there are some dry spots in southern Saskatchewan and larger areas of excessive moisture in northern Saskatchewan and northern Alberta.

"The main factors to watch are weather conditions, especially precipitation, during the seeding, growing and harvest periods in Canada.

"Other factors to watch are the exchange rates of the Canadian dollar against the US dollar and other currencies, ocean shipping rates and growing conditions in major producing regions, especially India, United States, European Union, Turkey and Australia."

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