More Special Crops, But Supplies Tight

VANCOUVER - Oct 2/08 - SNS -- Canadian specialty crop production is 5.4% better than expected last month, with Statistics Canada boosting combined output of all specialty crops from 5.046 million metric tons (MT) to 5.319 million with its latest crop production estimates.

Field pea, lentil, canaryseed and chickpea estimates were increased from the last report; while the forecast size of this year's dry edible bean, mustard and sunflower seed crops were reduced. It is worth noting the lentil estimate is slightly lower than expected by some market participants, but almost identical to STAT Market Research's last forecast of a 900,500 MT crop.

The latest estimates were based on a computer assisted telephone interview survey of 15,000 farm operations across Canada between September 2 and 9.

Heading into this crop report there was a general expectation this year's crop production estimates will increase with each update in the numbers, with the result markets have anticipated the trend. This thought in reinforced by the historic tendency for production numbers to increase with each report.

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