Normal Quality, Lower Average Specialty Yields

VANCOUVER - Oct 12/07 - SNS -- Specialty crop production in Canada is now forecast at 4.58 million metric tons (MT) by Agriculture Canada.

Compared to 2006-07, yield estimates are lower for dry beans, chickpeas, mustard seed, canary seed and sunflower seed, but higher for dry peas and lentils, Agriculture Canada said.

"Crop abandonment is estimated to be lower than normal. The harvest is near completion except for sunflower seed and buckwheat, which are normally harvested later than the other crops.

"Quality is expected to be normal, assuming normal weather conditions during the remainder of the harvest period. The risk of frost damage is generally low for unharvested fields due to the advanced stage of development."

In its latest review of specialty crop markets, Agriculture Canada said, total supply is expected to decrease by 4% to 5.34 million MT due to lower carry-in stocks, "causing exports, domestic use and carry-out stocks to decrease.

"Average prices, over all types, grades and markets, are forecast to increase from 2006-07 for dry peas, lentils, dry beans, mustard seed, canary seed, sunflower seed and buckwheat, but decrease for chickpeas. The main factor to watch is weather, especially precipitation, during the remainder of the harvest period. Other factors to watch are crop conditions in other major producing regions, especially the US, Australia, India and Mexico, currency exchange rates and ocean shipping costs."

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