Average Mustard Seed Harvest in 2006

WINNIPEG - May 1/07 - SNS -- The Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) says Canada's 2006 mustard seed harvest was most average.

All three types of mustard seed were similar to the average fixed oil content and crude protein content, though oriental and brown had lower average fixed oils and slightly higher protein contents than was the case for the 2005 crop.

Top grade oriental mustard had a fixed oil content of 41.8%, a decrease of 0.9% from the 2005 value of 42.7%. Top grade brown mustard samples had a fixed oil content of 40.2%, a 0.4% decrease from the 2005 value of 40.6. Oriental mustard samples had similar a protein content of 26.2% while brown mustard increased 0.3% to 26.0% in 2006.

Compared to 2005 values, the average glucosinolate content of the 2006 oriental mustard samples increased slightly while the 2006 brown mustard samples contained similar levels of glucosinolates. Compared to 2005, the yellow mustard survey samples were 0.3% lower in fixed oil at 30.5% and 0.4% higher in protein content at 31.8%.

"The three mustard crops grown in western Canada in 2006 showed the general characteristics of a crop grown under generally good, but drier and warmer than normal conditions," the CGC said in its annual review of the crop.

"Some of the southern regions of the mustard growing area received very hot, dry weather in July which contributed to much lower fixed oils, higher crude proteins and higher glucosinolate levels in those regions. The Grain Research Laboratory (GRL) long-term harvest survey results show that hot, dry growing conditions tend to produce an oilseed crop with lower oil contents and iodine values, but higher protein contents.

"Research also shows that glucosinolate levels may increase when Brassica crops are grown under hot, dry conditions. Because mustard processors generally prefer lower fixed oils, the quality of the 2006 mustard crop should be very good for end-users."

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