STAT Communications Ag Market News

Ag Canada Expects Modest Canaryeed Area Drop

WINNIPEG - Jan 26/16 - SNS -- In its latest monthly review of Canadian canaryseed Agriculture Canada's market analysis branch in Winnipeg released its first forecast for the 2016-17 marketing year. It is important to recall that Agriculture Canada forecasts are not based on objective surveys should be considered unofficial.

It predicts canaryseed production this year will total 145,000 MT from 130,000 hectares, compared to 149,000 MT from 132,000 hectares last year.

Agriculture Canada forecasts exports will reach 140,000 MT in 2016-17, compared to an estimated 145,000 MT this season. Domestic use is forecast at 5,000 MT in the coming marketing year, versus 9,000 this season.

Season ending stocks are forecast to finish the 2015-16 marketing year at 5,000 MT, versus 10,000 last season. Agriculture Canada thinks the coming marketing year could finish with 5,000 MT of canaryseed on hand.

Agriculture Canada expects the average grower bid to range between $585 and $615 MT in 2015-16. It thinks the season average bid will range between $565 and $595 MT in 2016-17.

Agriculture Canada noted, "Health Canada and the US Food and Drug Administration have recently approved hairless canary seed as a human food. It will take time to develop markets for products such as bread, pasta and baked goods made with canary seed flour.

"The flour is high protein and does not contain gluten. The approval covers glabrous (hairless) canary seed varieties, with both brown and yellow-colored seeds. The glabrous varieties currently grown by farmers are brown when the hull is removed.

"The Canary Seed Development Commission of Saskatchewan is hopeful that the food industry and consumers will begin to adopt this nutritious grain. Up until now, the production potential of canary seed has been limited by the size of the market for birdseed."

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