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Specialty Crop News for February, 1998

• Australian Field Pea Supply-Demand Estimates

• Australian Chick Pea Supply-Demand Estimates

• Australian Lupin Supply-Demand Estimates

• USDA Tenders for 220 MT Pinto Beans
  KANSAS CITY -- Feb 4/98 -- The USDA's Commodity Credit Corporation here tendered for 220 MT of pinto beans for shipment to Moldova in the former Soviet Union.

• USDA Buys 1,610 MT Green Preas and Beans
  KANSAS CITY -- Feb 3/98 -- The USDA's Commodity Credit Corporation Office here confirmed the purchase of 1,610 MT of greenm peas, black and pinto beans under Invitation No. 028, dated January 20, 1998.

• Heavy Winter Rains Suggest Big Spanish Crops
  ADRID -- Feb 4-98 -- Significant improvements in Spanish crop yields are expected this spring and summer after heavy and sustained rains throughout most of most of the country recharged soil moisture and reservoir levels.

• Crop Diversification Increases Diseases
  EDMONTON -- Feb 5/98 -- Crop production trends in the prairies have moved to diversification and increased production of exotic herbs, spices, essential oil and medicinal plants. Along with these new crops can come diseases that have rarely, if ever,been seen on the prairies before.

• Trucking - a critical step in getting product to market
  EDMONTON -- Feb 5/98 -- Trucking is identified as a concern facing rural food processors. When it comes to trucking everything goes much smoother when the responsibilities of the processor and those of the company carrying your product are known.

• Rising Indian Pulse Demand Predicted for 1998
  DONALD -- Feb 5/98 -- Increased demand in India for pulses could result in higher returns for Western Australian growers, according to Agriculture Western Australia's principle pulse agronomist Kadambot Siddique.

• International Field Pea Production Outlook

• Lupin Diseass Threaten Significant Yield Losses in 1998
  DONALD -- Feb 6/98 -- Several disease problems continue to cloud Western Australia's lupin industry, with state agriculture officials predicting dramatic yield losses next year if growers do not take a more active role in controlling spread of disease.

• Beans Ease on Lack of Fresh News
  VANCOUVER -- Feb 6/98 -- STAT -- The absence of follow through buying by Mexican importers after last months sale of 100,000 MT of import permits was reflected in generally easier dry edible bean markets in the United States.

• Birdseed Markets Mired in Recent Trading Range
  VANCOUVER -- Feb 6/98 -- STAT -- Limited trading interest left birdseed ingredient markets in a mixed state by weeks end.

• Eston and Red Lentil Seeding Expansion Seen
  VANCOUVER -- Feb 6/98 -- STAT -- North American lentil markets recorded a mixed performance against generally light domestic and export consumer demand.

• Field Pea Market Outlook Improving
  VANCOUVER -- Feb 6/98 -- STAT -- International field pea markets recorded a mixed performance during a week which saw some improvement in the quantity of price friendly news.

• Recent Canadian Dollar Slump Credited for Grower Bids
  EDMONTON -- Feb 7/98 -- The relative strength of Canadian specialty crop grower bids are a direct result of last month's slump in the value of the Canadian dollar, suggests Alberta Agriculture.

• Thoughts on Canaryseed Seeding in Alberta
  EDMONTON -- Feb 12/98 -- Growers seeding canaryseed in Alberta will soon have options beyond the traditional varieties, bring with that the hope of expanded market opportunities.

• Michigan Edible Bean Stocks Ease to 206,387 MT
  SAGINAW -- Feb 13/978 -- Dry edible bean stocks in Michigan elevators are down 8% from the record level in store on December 31, 1996 according to the Federal/State Michigan Agricultural Statistics Service.

• Japan -- Dry Edible Bean Supply-Demand Forecast

• Japanese Domestic Pulse Usage Levels Crumbling
  TOKYO -- Feb 13/98 -- Dry edible bean and field pea consumption levels in Japan reveal a disturbing tendency during the closing years of the decade, with domestic usage levels dropping.

• El Nino Continues to Hurt Latin American Crops
  ROME -- Feb 13/98 -- El Nino-related irregular and ill-distributed precipitation and temperature anomalies should result in a substantial increase in grain imports by South and Central America, according to the latest alert report on the situation bythe United Nation's Food and Agriculture Organization.

• Nestle Expands Pet Food Business Share to 20%
  LONDON -- Feb 13/98 -- Nestle's recent purchase of Dalgety's Spillers pet food business has given the Swiss consumer products group a 20% share of Europe's branded pet food market.

• Bean Markets Record Mixed Performance
  VANCOUVER -- Feb 13/98 -- STAT -- Dry edible bean markets in the United States recorded a mixed performance on the week as processors indicate frustration with the lack of follow through buying from Mexico.

• Canaryseed Trading Volumes Improve
  VANCOUVER -- Feb 13/98 -- STAT -- North American birdseed ingredient markets ended the week unchanged to higher against good improvements in trading volume.

• North American Lentil Markets Incha Forward
  VANCOUVER -- Feb 13/98 -- STAT -- North American lentil markets ended the weeks trading off their highs for the period, but still ahead of the previous weeks closing values.

• Export Feed Peas Reach Historic Low in Europe
  VANCOUVER -- Feb 13/98 -- STAT -- International field pea markets moved to the lower end of recent trading ranges in both Canada and Australia.

• Canaryseed Strengthens at Grower Level
  EDMONTON -- Feb 16/98 -- Specialty crop markets were relatively steady the past week, with canaryseed providing the most strength in the complex.

• South African Bean Area Plunges
  PRETORIA -- Feb 17/98 -- Dry edible bean seedings in South Africa are down 11,000 hectares to just 36,000 hectares for the 1997-98 season, according to seeded area estimates from the National Crop Estimates Committee.

• South African Bean Area Plunges
  PRETORIA -- Feb 17/98 -- Dry edible bean seedings in South Africa are down 11,000 hectares to just 36,000 hectares for the 1997-98 season, according to seeded area estimates from the National Crop Estimates Committee.

• USDA Tenders for 2,150 MT Pulses
  KANSAS CITY -- Feb 17/98 -- The latest USDA Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) PL-480 food aid tender requests offers on 2,150 MT of green peas, pinto beans and lentils.

• USDA Seeks Offers on 270 MT Beans
  KANSAS CITY -- STAT -- The total quantity of dry edible beans covered by USDA PL-480 food aid tender this season now totals 6,450 MT, compared to 22,780 MT last year.

• Pea and Lentil Tenders Total 2,100 MT
  KANSAS CITY -- STAT -- The quantity of peas and lentils covered by USDA PL-480 food aid tender this season now totals 27,990 MT, compared to 42,190 MT last year.

• USDA Tenders for 2,370 MT Pulses
  KANSAS CITY -- STAT -- The latest USDA PL-480 tenders bring actual and potential purchases of pulses for shipment as food aid during the 1997-98 shipping season to 34,440 MT.

• Saskatchewan Pulse Group Predicts Pea Area Jump
  SASKATOON -- Feb 18/98 -- An informal survey of growers attending production meetings organized by the Saskatchewan Pulse Growers suggests land committed to all pulses grown in the province will increase this spring.

• Sierra Leone Faces Severe Food Shortfall
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• Canada -- Specialty Crop Review and 1998 Forecast

• Bean Markets Adopt Bearish Attitude
  VANCOUVER -- Feb 20/98 -- STAT -- Dry edible bean markets were generally weaker in the United States as Latin American competitors adopt a somewhat bearish attitude toward new crop prices prospects.

• Birdseed Markets Steady to Firmer in Acreage Concern
  VANCOUVER -- Feb 20/98 -- STAT -- Canadian canaryseed markets advanced in both spot and new crop shipping positions against worries about the quantity of product which be seeded this spring.

• Mixed Performnace Recorded in Lentil Markets
  VANCOUVER -- Feb 20/98 -- STAT -- International lentil markets recorded a mixed performance amid seasonally light trading conditions.

• Easing Demand Reflected in Pea Values
  VANCOUVER -- Feb 20/98 -- STAT -- North American field pea markets were generally easier in relatively light trading conditions.

• Clean Peas Important Source of Lysine in Hog Rations
  EDMONTON -- Feb 21/98 -- Producers must pay close attention to anumal feed requirements to grow today's high indexing, fast growing pigs.

• Grower Markets Steady in Canadian Specialties
  EDMONTON -- Feb 21/98 -- Specialty crop markets in western Canada were relatively steady at the grower level during the week, with interest from China on peas and the Mediterranean on lentils supporting values.

• Canadian Field Pea Supply-Demand Estimates

• Canadian Canaryseed Supply-Demand Estimates

• Canadian Lentil Supply-Demand Estimates

• Canadian Mustard Seed Supply-Demand Estimates

• Australian Crop Production Estimates

• Australian Seeded Area Estimates

• Yugoslavian Pet Food Industry Growth Expected
  SOFIA, Bulgaria -- Feb 26/98 -- A growth rate approaching 15% could be possible in Yugoslavia's pet food industry even though consumer purchasing power is relatively low.

• Western Australia Fababean Quality Improving
  DONALD -- Feb 27/98 -- A campaign to improve the quality of faba beans produced in Western Australia had achieved the desired results at harvest according to Agriculture Western Australia agronomist Stephen Loss.

• Aphids Cause Significant Lupin Yield Damage
  DONALD -- Feb 27/98 -- Research by Agriculture Western Australia presented at the Crop Updates today has confirmed that high numbers of aphids significantly reduced the yield of lupin crops, particularly in low rainfall areas.

• New Field Pea Varieties for Western Australia
  DONALD -- Feb 27/98 -- Renewed interest in field peas was expected this year following the 1997 release of two new varieties for the medium and high rainfall zones according to Agriculture Western Australia development officer Adrian Cox.

• Increased Seeding Rates Improve Yields
  DONALD -- Feb 27/98 -- Agriculture Western Australia has advised the State's pulse growers to use high seeding rates as a key strategy to optimise crop yields and profits.

• India -- Pulse Supply-Demand Forecast

• Indian Pulse Output Decline Forecast for 1998
  NEW DELHI -- Feb 26/98 -- A significant decline in pulse production is possible in India for the coming season as part of the aftermath of unseasonable rainfall patterns during December and January.

• China's Quarterly Bean Exports

• Australian Pulse Expansion Likely in 1998-99
  VANCOUVER -- Feb 27/98 -- STAT -- Strong internal markets for pulses and expectations of growing demand from key buyers such as those in India are expected to fuel a solid increase in pulse seedings in Australia next fall.

• Improved Brazilian Buying Supports Black Beans
  VANCOUVER -- Feb 27/98 -- STAT -- International dry edible bean markets were unchanged to slightly weaker against limited buying interest.

• Popcorn Markets Weaken Against Argentine Competition
  VANCOUVER -- Feb 27/98 -- STAT -- Few substantive changes were reported in birdseed ingredient markets during the week.

• Lower Australian Crop Support Lentil Market
  VANCOUVER -- Feb 27/98 -- STAT -- International lentil markets ended the week generally firmer.

• Field Pea Markets Experience Slight Firmness
  VANCOUVER -- Feb 27/98 -- STAT -- International field pea markets ended the week on a slightly firming trend.

• Weekly Dealer Bid Summary and Recent History

• Forage Seed Markets Strengthen Against CRP Estimates
  EDMONTON -- Feb 28/98 -- With the exception of the turf grasses, other forage seeds remain steady to slightly stronger, notes Alberta Agriculture in its latest review of specialty crop markets in that province.

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